Leaked Report Shows "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Poses 'Minimal Risk'

Findings Reflect Professional Character of a Force Accustomed to Diversity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/11/2010

Contact:

Jarrod Chlapowski: 202.349.1123 | Email: [email protected]

Alex Nicholson: 202.349.1126 | Email: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, issued the following statement today in response to a front-page Washington Post story about additional leaked results from the Pentagon's Comprehensive Review Working Group study on implementing the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law:

"These results confirm what those of us who actually know the modern military, especially the rank and file troops, have said all along. The men and women of America's armed forces are professionals who are capable of handling this policy change," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under the law in 2002. "In light of these findings, as well as the Secretary of Defense's recent call for Senate action on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' during the lame duck session, there is no longer any excuse for failing to bring the defense authorization bill back up during the first week of the post-election legislative session."

For more information about Servicemembers United and "Don't Ask, Dont' Tell," please visit www.ServicemembersUnited.org. For the most comprehensive collection of polling data, discharge statistics, academic works, legislative and congressional material, and more, visit www.DADTArchive.org.

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Servicemembers United, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies. Based in Washington, DC, Servicemembers United actively engages in education and advocacy on issues affecting the gay military, veteran, and defense community.