Over 500 gays serve openly in US military

[PageOneQ]

Army Sergeant Darren Manzella is one of about 500 gay members of the military that serves openly without consequence despite the divisive policy that mandates their discharge, he tells USA Today.

Manzella, with the backing of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, will be on the Michelangelo Signorile Show on SiriusOutQ this afternoon, at 3:30pm Eastern, to discuss his recent appearance on CBS' 60 Minutes. 10 USC 654, better known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," does not necessarily guarantee the discharge of all openly gay personnel as the policy mandates, the Sergeant suggests. Whether or not a servicemember joins over 12,000 personnel fired under "Don't Ask" since its enactment appears to depend on the attitudes of his or her commanders and line of work.

Such selective enforcement could suggest not only a growing distaste for the policy, but the unwillingness of superiors to sacrifice good personnel simply because they are gay.

More: http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Over_500_gays_serve_openly_in_US_mili_0108.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. Now would be the time for all gays to come out in the service.