Impact of Lifting the Ban: Other Agencies and Countries that Allow Open Service
Although the United States prohibits service by openly gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women in the armed forces, many U.S. security agencies and foreign militaries have lifted their bans without negative impacts.
In recent years, restrictions have been lifted on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service in U.S. civilian law enforcement and security agencies, including the FBI, CIA, NASA, the National Security Agency and the Secret Service. There is no evidence to suggest that any of these organizations have suffered a decrease in unit cohesion or performance.[1]
Hundreds of state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies, such as police and fire departments, also have eliminated prohibitions on lesbian and gay employment, without any reported negative effect on unit cohesion, morale or performance.[2]
Among the 19 NATO member countries, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United States are the only six that do not allow gays, lesbians and bisexuals to serve openly. Foreign militaries that have lifted their bans include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.[3]
Since 1983, Israel, hailed by many as an unparalleled fighting force, has allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly, with no adverse effects.[4]There have been no identifiable negative effects on troop morale, combat effectiveness, recruitment and retention, or other measures of military performance in Australia or Canada since both countries lifted their bans in 1992.[5] Britain lifted its ban in 2000 and the new policy has been classified by Britain's Ministry of Defense as a "solid achievement," with no perceived effect on morale, unit cohesion or operational effectiveness.[6]
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the armed services have served openly in the United States while awaiting discharge with no effect on their units' performance, readiness or morale. Moreover, U.S. military personnel already serve alongside openly gay service members in and from countries throughout the world in U.N. peacekeeping and other joint missions.
Related Resources
- The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military promotes the interdisciplinary analysis of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other marginalized sexual identities in the armed forces.
- The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal service, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "don't ask, don't tell" and related forms of intolerance.
References
1. Based on monitoring by the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military.
2. Numbers based on jurisdictional non-discrimination laws covering sexual orientation bias, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's WorkNet project (www.hrc.org/worknet). Evaluations of effects based on the following: Belkin, Aaron and McNichol, Jason, "Pink and Blue: Outcomes Associated with the Integration of Open Gay and Lesbian Personnel in the San Diego Police Department," Police Quarterly (March 2002); and Kogel, Paul, "Lessons Learned from the Experience of Domestic Police and Fire Departments," Out in Force: Sexual Orientation and the Military (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996).
3. Based on monitoring by the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military.
4. Belkin, Aaron and Levitt, Melissa, Effects of Lifting of Restrictions on Gay and Lesbian Service in the Israeli Forces: Appraising the Evidence (June 2000).
5. Belkin, Aaron and McNichol, Jason, The Effects of Including Gay and Lesbian Soldiers in the Australian Defence Forces: Appraising the Evidence (September 2000), and Belkin, Aaron and McNichol, Jason, Effects of the 1992 Lifting of Restrictions on Gay and Lesbian Service in the Canadian Forces: Appraising the Evidence (April 2000),
6. Belkin, Aaron and Evans, R.L., The Effects of Including Gay and Lesbian Soldiers in the British Armed Forces: Appraising the Evidence (November 2000).