Currently the don't ask / don't tell policy is under a lot of criticism by civil rights groups and GLBT advocates. I think a rising disparity for gay women is likely due to the big stir right now over sex discrimination in the military. Historically don't ask / don't tell was primarily intended as a workaround for gay men to serve because the majority of soldiers are still male. After it was adopted a surge of male homosexuals joined the military, probably seen as a triumph for the gay community. Today it has less of a disproportionate effect for men and probably explains how the negative affects we are seeing now is more likely to take its toll on females.

Look at the case of Margaret Witt, a decorated Air Force nurse who was discharged after speculations about her sexuality surfaced (she was in fact a lesbian). The primary criticism for don't ask don't tell is while it makes it easy for homosexuals to get in the military, they receive few or no protections from discrimination and discharge once evidence has surfaced that they are gay. That is what happened with Major Witt although her performance in hostile situations was exemplary. The whole policy needs to be revamped, to place more focus on the achievements of service members and proof that sexual orientation doesn't make you any less or more capable of those achievements.