Although the Pentagon has not dropped its unfair "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military, it has done one thing that, at first glance, appears to be a step forward. The military has decided to discontinue classification of homosexuality as a "mental disorder." The move falls about 30 or more years behind the American Psychological Association, but it is an important step nonetheless.

So what's the problem with the Pentagon's decision? It turns out that instead of just getting rid of the stigma altogether, the military reclassified homosexuality as a "condition or circumstance," added to a list that includes bedwetting, stuttering, dyslexia, sleepwalking, motion sickness, obesity and insect venom allergies.

This sure seems like some attempt to hold on to justification of "don't ask, don't tell." The military has put homosexuality, a lifestyle choice independent of military performance, in with a group of conditions that very obviously could affect performance.

Why does the military continue to insist that being gay will somehow make a soldier less fit for military service? What evidence do they have for their stance? Many of our own allies in Iraq, including the United Kingdom, allow homosexuals into their militaries.

Our military certainly doesn't claim that there are no homosexuals in the military — they know better than that — so why not allow them to serve without fear of discharge?

A new book by Reichen Lehmkuhl, Here's What We'll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, gives a firsthand account of military service as a homosexual. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Reichen was one of the previous winners of TV's The Amazing Race.

The book is a detailed account of Reichen's experience in the Air Force Academy, and his trouble with being open to his family and friends but being unable to show who he really was around his peers and superiors at the Academy.

Was his homosexuality detrimental to his service? Well, let's look at his other accomplishments: He managed to become a captain in the Air Force, a successful entrepreneur, a flight instructor, an international model and won one of the most grueling physical and mental competitions on television.

From reading Reichen's book, it would seem that the most difficult part of the military for a gay man was not the tasks of the military, but instead the extra stress put upon him by the military to hide who he was.

The military is in fact putting itself at risk by having many troops who are at risk for blackmail or possible other outcomes because they hide their orientation for fear of discharge.

Why can't our Pentagon look toward its closest allies and see that their open policies are working just fine? The Pentagon admits that homosexuality isn't on par with mental disorders and other debilitating conditions, yet it maintains that it is a factor that hinders service.

Homosexuals will continue to volunteer their lives to serve this country. We can either honor them by letting them serve with pride, or we can continue to add stress to their lives and demean them on purpose.

Columnist Hunter Kincaid: hunterkincaid@thedaily.washington.edu