[pmulcahy11b]

I also look as the ban on gays from a National Security standpoint -- at a time when we need more fresh troops, and there are probably as many patriotic gay Americans as straight Americans willing and able to do military service, we are depriving ourselves of a vast pool of manpower, while we damage the mental health and home life of thousands of American servicemen and servicewomen by continually sending them off to year-to 15-month combat assignments.