MYTH: Don't Ask, Don't Tell is working
REALITY: Over 13,500 service members reportedly fired under law, including decorated officers and those in "critical occupations." According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a "non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by" the DADT policy, "
ore than 13,500 service members have been fired under the law since 1994," based on Department of Defense data. That number includes numerous decorated officers and, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, at least 54 servicemembers who had received Arabic language training, and more than 750 servicemembers in "critical occupations."
MYTH: Repeal would undermine morale and unit cohesion
REALITY: Unit cohesion argument "not supported by any scientific studies." In his award-winning essay, Prakash wrote of DADT: "The stated premise of the law -- to protect unit cohesion and combat effectiveness -- is not supported by any scientific studies."
MYTH: Military experts oppose the repeal of DADT
REALITY: More than 100 retired generals and admirals have called for DADT's repeal. The Palm Center has posted on its website a list of more than 100 retired generals and admirals who "support the recent comments of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General John Shalikashvili, who has concluded that repealing the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy would not harm and would indeed help our armed forces."
MYTH: The public does not support repeal of DADT
REALITY: Numerous polls find broad support for gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military
MYTH: Right-wing attacks on DADT repeal are not anti-gay
REALITY: Prominent right-wing figures opposing repeal have a history of anti-gay rhetoric. For example: Wesley Pruden. In a February 5 Washington Times op-ed headlined "Nothing gay about this mission," Washington Times editor emeritus Pruden attacked repealing DADT by asserting that "there's really not very much gay about war"
MYTH: DADT repeal would adversely affect retention
REALITY: Claim defies experiences of several other countries that have allowed gay men and lesbians to serve openly. In his 2003 Parameters article, Belkin wrote that CSSMM's study (now the Palm Center) found that "ot a single one of the 104 experts interviewed believed that the Australian, Canadian, Israeli, or British decisions to lift their gay bans ... led to increased difficulties in recruiting or retention."
MYTH: Experience of other nations aren't relevant because "nobody counts on" their armies
REALITY: Several nations have fought in wars after allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly. Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada -- all of which allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly -- all have more than 1,000 servicemembers deployed in Afghanistan. The United Kingdom and Canada have each suffered more than 100 casualties since the war began. Australia and the United Kingdom both participated in the invasion of Iraq; Australia sent 2,000 troops while the UK originally contributed 46,000. Israel has also engaged in numerous military conflicts since its 1993 removal of all restrictions on gay men and lesbians serving openly.
MYTH: Only progressives support the repeal of DADT
REALITY: Polls show support for repeal of DADT among many Republicans, conservatives. According to the February ABC News/Washington Post poll, 61 percent of conservatives and 64 percent of Republicans support allowing "homosexuals who DO disclose their sexual orientation" to serve. The February Quinnipiac poll found that 40 percent of Republicans support the repeal of DADT. The May 2009 Gallup poll found that 58 percent of Republicans, 58 percent of conservatives, and 60 percent of weekly churchgoers favor "allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military."
MYTH: DADT repeal would expose servicemembers to greater HIV risk
REALITY: Military regulations and procedures already exist to prevent spread of HIV. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, "Since October 1985, the U.S. Department of Defense has routinely tested civilian applicants for military service for serologic evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)." Further, U.S. military regulations require continued testing of all active-duty personnel every two years and provide procedures for preventing those who have tested HIV-positive from serving overseas or serving as blood donors.
http://mediamatters.org/research/201002240012