TALKING POINTS

GAY PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY


*	THE MILITARY'S POLICY WHICH EXCLUDES 
LESBIANS, GAY MEN, AND BISEXUALS FROM SERVING 
IN THE MILITARY IS SIMPLE DISCRIMINATION.  

There is no evidence that gay people are not good soldiers.  
Military officials at the highest levels, Senators on the 
Armed Services Committee and proponents of keeping the 
ban, all AGREE gay people are currently serving in the 
military with valor and distinction and have done so for 
years.  This is also documented in the military's own 
internal reports.  But the military wants these good 
soldiers ONLY if they keep their sexual orientation a deep 
and dark secret.  This is not about merit and military 
effectiveness; this is simple discrimination.

*	THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ALLOWING OPENLY 
GAY PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY WILL REDUCE THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MILITARY.  

The military says openly gay people will affect  "unit 
cohesion," "discipline" or "rank and command."  But it 
simply is NOT TRUE that straight people hate gay people 
so much they cannot live and work with them.  Over the 
years, lots of straight people have served with people they 
have known are gay -- without problems.  The military 
institution also has amply demonstrated its ability, through 
order and command, to tell any straight person who is 
uncomfortable with gay people to keep personal prejudices 
in check and to work with people based on merit.  The 
burden of proof is on the military to justify its exclusion.

*	THE MILITARY CURRENTLY SPENDS MILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS AND THOUSANDS OF PERSON HOURS 
TRACING DOWN AND "WEEDING OUT" GAY PEOPLE 
FROM THE MILITARY.  

Stopping disruptive "witch -hunts" of suspected gay people, 
allowing perhaps 10% of our military to serve productively 
and without constant fear of disclosure, will enhance, 
rather than decrease, the effectiveness of our fighting 
forces.  Millions of tax dollars currently lost in 
investigating and discharging these thousands of talented 
servicepeople every year will be saved.

*	ALLOWING OPENLY GAY PEOPLE INTO THE 
MILITARY WILL NOT INCREASE THE RISK OF AIDS IN 
THE MILITARY.  

The military already has a stringent HIV-screening policy 
for applicants and denies entrance to those who are HIV-
positive.  The military also has a devel-oped HIV/AIDS 
policy for servicemembers.  None of these policies will be 
changed by allowing those gay people currently in the 
military to remain serving this country even if they are 
known to be gay.  The AIDS issue is a complete red 
herring.

*	LIFTING THE MILITARY BAN IS NOT A GRAND 
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT.

It is a simple application of our Nation's commitment to 
anti-discrimination and fairness. Racial integration of the 
military was not a grand social experiment in 1948.  It was 
simply the right thing to do.  Lifting the military ban 
against gay people now is the RIGHT THING TO DO.


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Prepared by the Legal/Policy Department of the Campaign 
for Military Service.   2707 Massachussetts Ave, NW   
Washington, DC 20009.  (202) 265-6666.