One day before President Obama is being rumored to address the issue in his first State of the Union address, the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy released a report by Williams Distinguished Scholar Gary Gates, Ph.D. which estimates the number of openly LGBT people serving in the United States Armed Forces as well as the financial impact on eliminating Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Key findings from the report (pdf) include:
● An estimated 66,000 lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are serving in the US military, accounting for approximately 2.2% of military personnel.
● Approximately 13,000 LGB people are serving on active duty (comprising 0.9% of all active duty personnel) while nearly 53,000 are serving in the guard and reserve forces (3.4%).
● While women comprise only about 14% of active duty personnel, they comprise more than 43% of LGB men and women serving on active duty.
● Lifting DADT restrictions could attract an estimated 36,700 men and women to active duty service and 12,000 more individuals to the guard and reserve.
● Since its inception in 1994, the “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy has cost the military between $290 million and more than a half a billion dollars.
● The military spends an estimated $22,000 to $43,000 per person to replace those discharged under DADT.
The Williams Institute is one of the most important sources of unbiased, excellent research on the LGBT community and I am happy to be a supporter of its work. I encourage you to do as well!
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