At least 500 troops openly gay, group says

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Sgt. Darren Manzella is an Army medic who has suffered no repercussions from his commanders for announcing that he is gay, a violation of military policy.


At least 500 troops openly gay, group says
By Andrea Stone - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Jan 8, 2008 18:31:24 EST

Army Sgt. Darren Manzella figured that stating he was gay on national television would surely get him booted from the military under the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. But Manzella has heard nothing in the three weeks since he told CBS’ “60 Minutes” that his fellow soldiers knew he was gay and the program aired a home video that showed him kissing a former boyfriend.

“I thought I would at least be asked about the segment or approached and told I shouldn’t speak to the media again,” said Manzella, 30, a medic who recently returned from Kuwait and plans to hold a news conference Tuesday in Washington to discuss the military’s silence.

He said he is among a growing number of service members who have told other troops and even commanders they are gay and have not been discharged.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay advocacy group, says it knows of about 500 gay troops who are serving openly without consequences.

“That’s the highest number we’ve ever been aware of,” said SLDN spokesman Steve Ralls. “Their experiences point to an undeniable shift in the armed forces.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/gns_gaytroops_080108/