Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Monday, June 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

More lesbians discharged in 2007

The Army and Air Force discharged a disproportionate number of women in 2007 under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits openly...

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Army and Air Force discharged a disproportionate number of women in 2007 under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits openly gay people from serving in the military, according to Pentagon statistics gathered by an advocacy group.

While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged under the policy last year were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges under the policy last year were women.

By comparison for 2006, about 35 percent of the Army's discharges and 36 percent of the Air Force's were women, according to the statistics.

The information was gathered under a Freedom of Information Act request by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a policy advocacy organization.

The organization compiled gender statistics on the discharges but conducted no formal set of interviews and thus could offer no verifiable reason for the increase in women separated from the military under "don't ask, don't tell."

The Pentagon in recent days released overall numbers of discharges under the policy for 2007, without a breakdown by gender.

Overall, the number of gay men and lesbians discharged in 2007 rose to 627 from 612 a year before, according to Pentagon statistics. Those figures represent a drop of about 50 percent from a peak in 2001, before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the statistics, the Army in 2007 discharged 302 soldiers under the policy, up from 280 the year before. The Air Force dismissed 91 people, down from 102 in 2006.

The Navy discharged 166, the same as in 2006. The Marine Corps discharged 68, up from 64 in 2006.

Pentagon officials could not explain why the numbers for women increased last year.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

U.S. House passes health plan

Dems get past abortion hurdle

Landmark health bill passes House on close vote

Fort Hood shooting suspect had shown troubling signs

Army names rampage victims

Advertising

Video

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.

Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising