Women in the military are twice as likely to be targeted by the military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on LGBT military personnel, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network said Monday.
While women comprise about 15 percent of the total military force, they represent nearly 30 percent of all "don't ask, don't tell" discharges since 1993, Department of Defense figures show.
"Lesbian-baiting goes back to the early days of World War II, when women began volunteering for service in what was traditionally a man's world," said retired Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote, an honorary board member of SLDN.
"In Iraq today, women represent approximately 15 percent of the forces reporting for duty and have made sacrifices equal to men," Foote said. "They should be valued for their service and in no way held back because of gender or sexual orientation."
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/03/20/1