Women tell their own stories under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy

The military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has been controversial since the beginning. Its central premise is that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military could influence the ability of a military unit to perform its duty. But new findings are challenging that idea. A study published this week in the journal "Armed Forces and Society" has found that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan do not identify the sexuality of a service member as a significant factor in their unit's readiness to fight, and instead point to other factors -- such as the quality of officers, training and equipment  -- as far more important. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they felt comfortable in the presence of gays or lesbians. It also found that support for the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy has decreased sharply, from 75 percent in 1993 down to forty percent today.

President Obama has pledged to end the policy during his term in office and there is growing momentum to repeal it. But often lost in the discussion are those most affected by the policy itself - women and, especially, women of color.

Here to join us is KPFA reporter Kellia Ramares. She's the producer of a new documentary, Do Tell: Queer Women Sound Off on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. She's also a contributor to FSRN.

To listen to the complete documentary, visit broadcasteratlarge.blogspot.com and go to “Civil Rights and Liberties.”