Webmarc is completely right! The public is overwhelmingly in favor of allowing open service and the reality is gay people already serve!

All DADT does is make them behave dishonorably—forcing them to lie—and exposes them to threats, blackmail, etc. At the unit-level, people tend to know each other’s business. Ask gay former military, they nearly always say their fellow platoon, squad, or ship mates knew and were fine with their homosexuality. Are there exceptions, yes, but bigotry should never stand in the way of a patriot’s desire to protect & serve.

webmarc:

This won’t be easy, isn’t a good time, and won’t be well received by many of the existing troops.

Here’s the thing:

None of that changes the fact that it’s the right thing to do.  It will always be hard, never be the right time, and change always evokes strong emotion.