The Republican candidates, by contrast, all oppose lifting the ban on openly gay troops.

Mr. Clinton supported ending the ban on gay troops.

The numbers would suggest, in fact, that gay troops are being removed from the military at higher rates than before.

An analysis of Pentagon data reveals that the military is losing gay troops in the occupational areas where shortfalls are most dire.

The ruling could be the beginning of the end of the ban on gay troops.

His influence, despite the enemies created by the searing battle over the ban on gay troops, is too strong, particularly at moments like this.

Canada, which also had a ban on gay troops, was compelled by a federal court to reverse its policy in 1992.

Further, the policy lets unhappy troops, straight or gay, ditch the military service to which they have committed.

But, according to Scouts Canada and to members of the gay troop, there have few complaints about the new unit.