Study: 25 militaries integrated gays with minimal fallout

[NJmaverick]

WASHINGTON — At least 25 foreign militaries have allowed openly gay individuals to serve in the ranks with little or no negative effect on morale or recruiting, according to a new study released by the Palm Center, a research group that has advocated for the law’s repeal.

The report, released Tuesday, notes that countries like Britain, Australia and Israel have operated for years with no restrictions on troops’ sexual orientation or disclosure of their sexuality. Despite fears that such moves could create division or fear within units, researchers said they found no evidence of decreased military readiness, operations or morale.

“In no case did a formal change in policy result in a mass ‘coming out,’” the report states. “There were no instances of increased harassment by gay people as a result of lifting bans in any of the countries studied.”

The report comes as Pentagon officials begin a yearlong review of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, adopted in 1993 as a compromise to allow homosexual troops to serve in the ranks provided they do not make their sexual orientation public.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=68243