Secret Service

With a new administration in Washington, many of the military policies of the past are under review, including the much discussed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law. Passed in 1993, DADT mandates the discharge of any service member based on sexual orientation. There is no other U.S. law mandating firing an employee based on sexual orientation. A July 2008 poll by the Washington Post/ABC News found that 75 percent of Americans favor allowing gays to serve openly in the military, up from just 44 percent in 1993.

How has DADT affected the U.S. military?

• Since 1994, nearly 13,000 men and women have been discharged from service under DADT.
• A 2005 Government Accountability Office report says nearly 800 of those discharged were "mission-critical specialists", including pilots, intelligence analysts, medics and language experts.
• A Blue Ribbon Commission Report found that the cost to replace and train service members discharged because of DADT from FY 1994 - 2003 exceeded $363.8 million.

Most allied forces working alongside the U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq allow individuals to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation. Studies in the militaries of Australia, Israel, Great Britain and Canada have shown open service to have no effect on enrollment or retention. The number of countries allowing open service for gays and lesbians is 26. Of the original NATO countries, only the US and Turkey have bans in place. U.S. Defense contractors hire gay and lesbian employees who work alongside U.S. service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why does Congress still uphold the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" law? Will Congress work with the Obama Administration to repeal DADT? How does DADT affect military service?