Los Angeles Leads All Metropolitan Areas in Per Capita Population of Lesbian and Gay Veterans

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A new report from the Urban Institute estimates that, by even conservative counts, 65,000 lesbian and gay Americans are serving in the United States Armed Forces, on active duty, in the reserves and the National Guard. The report, Gay Men and Lesbians in the U.S. Military: Estimates from Census 2000 finds that the length of service for gay men is equal to their heterosexual colleagues, while lesbians typically serve longer than their straight counterparts. The Urban Institute's estimates are based on an analysis of year 2000 census data. The data is subjected to a rigorous review by the Institute, a non-partisan economic and social policy research organization.

"The positive contributions of 65,000 gay and lesbian Americans to our armed services and our national security cannot be ignored," said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "The number of lesbians and gays in service today is equal to half the total force strength currently serving in Iraq and is more than twice the 30,000 additional troops the Army Chief of Staff says he needs to fight the war on terrorism. There is no doubt that America needs her lesbian and gay patriots fighting on the front lines."

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Los Angeles Leads All Metropolitan Areas in Per Capita Population of Lesbian and Gay Veterans

According to the Urban Institute, conservative estimates suggest 36,000 gay men and lesbians are serving on active duty. When the National Guard and reserve are included, the number grows ...

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