WASHINGTON, D.C. (MCT) — Permitting gay people to serve openly in the U.S. armed forces has a low risk of harming military readiness, though it could cause “limited and isolated disruption” in some units, according to a major study by a Pentagon task force charged with examining the effect of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.
“We are convinced the U.S. military can make this change, even during this time of war,” the task force concluded, noting that 70 percent of tens of thousands of military personnel and family members surveyed predicted there would be “positive, mixed or no effect” from allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly.
The finding that repeal of the 17-year-old law could be accomplished with only short-term disruption appears likely to strengthen the position of members of Congress and of the Obama administration, which has called for overturning the statute before the end of the year.
