Every military branch dismissed a disproportionate number of
women in 2008 under the policy banning openly gay servicemembers. But the
discrepancy was particularly marked in the Air Force, where women were a
majority of those let go under the policy, even though they made up only 20
percent of personnel.
Across the military,
women represented about one-third of the 619 people discharged based on sexual
orientation. They account for just 15 percent of servicemembers.
The data was released
Thursday by the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
THIS IS A BREAKING
NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is
below.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) –
Pentagon statistics obtained by University of California researchers show that
lesbians were discharged under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy at
a much higher rate than gay men.
Every military branch
dismissed a disproportionate number of women in 2008 under the policy banning
openly gay servicemembers. But the discrepancy was particularly marked in the Air
Force, where women were a majority of those let go under the policy, even
though they made up only 20 percent of personnel.
Across the military,
women represented about one-third of the 619 people discharged based on sexual
orientation. They account for just 15 percent of servicemembers.
The data was released
Thursday by the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
