British army claims having openly gay soldiers has 'increased productivity'

[Bluebear]

Following the defeat of a vote in the US Senate to debate ending the US army's Don't ask, Don't tell' policy, the British army claims that allowing gay and lesbians to openly served has improved the armed forces.

Last week, primarily Republican US senators voted to block a debate into gay and lesbian people being able to serve openly in the military. A minimum of 60 senators were required to be in favour of overturning a filibuster of the 'defence authorisation bill' which includes the repeal of the US military 'Don't ask, Don't tell' policy by senator John McCain but only 56 senators voted in favour. Although some of the senators who voted against did so because of an immigration amendment 'tacked' onto the bill.

The vote came after a high-profile campaign by the singer Lady Gaga which included her wearing a dress made from meat at the MTV Video Music Awards and posting a video message to YouTube where she appealed directly to a number of Republican senators to support the vote for a debate and ultimately to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.

Colonel Mark Abraham, head of diversity for the British Army, told People Management the lifting of the ban on gays serving in the military in 2000 had "no notable change at all."

He added: “We got to the point where the policy was incompatible with military service and there was a lack of logic and evidence to support it...Colonel Abraham argues that the lifting of the ban actually made the armed forces more productive: "A lot of gay and lesbian soldiers who were in the army before the ban was lifted, reported that a percentage of their efforts was spent looking over their shoulder and ensuring they weren’t going to be caught. That percentage of time can now be devoted to work and their home life, so actually they are more effective than they were before."

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/29/british-army-claims-having-openly-gay-soliders-hasincreased-productivity

[old mark]

1. ...and there are curtains in all the barracks now... I am amazed that gay persons still have

the desire and the will to serve in the military at all after the huge amount of shit they get there. They must be the most truly patriotic Americans of all time.


mark

[joeybee12]

3. And everything is neater, too. nt/

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. And that is the experience of many other ARMED FORCES

that have lifted the ban.

We will, but we will be dragged screaming into the 21st century.

[joeybee12]

4. Yeah, and once this rigged survey is done, one wonders how much longer

they'll find excuses to put it off.

[RKP5637]

6. Yep, we can always often count on the US to rely on what has worked so well

than moving forward into the the 21st century. Other nations have lifted the ban, no difficulties... but no, not the US, we would rather make something simple into something wasteful in terms of life, energy and money. It makes congressmen feel they have some useful purpose.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I know we need to protect the minority

but we take it a tad too far at times... and I mean the radical right.

[RKP5637]

11. Yep, the RW goes way way over the top. n/t

[arbusto_baboso]

5. I served with gay soldiers. They were some of the best soldiers I've ever encountered.

And most of us knew, even if we didn't ask and weren't told.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Obviously the British Army is lying.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

13. They should have surveyed the British families for their opinion.

:silly:

[PDJane]

9. Worked here, too.

*shrug* first same sex marriage in the military is still going strong, and it was attended by what seemed like half the forces! I don't get the fuss, truly. It's a flaw in my character, I suppose.

[Solly Mack]

10. k&r

[foxfeet]

12. K&R

[Starry Messenger]

14. k & r