Washington: For the first time since it was enacted 15-years ago, a congressional hearing will be held on the impact of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the law banning openly gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the Armed Forces.

The hearing comes as a new poll shows for the first time that a majority of Americans believe gays should be allowed to serve.

The Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee will hold the public hearing on Wednesday.

Among those scheduled to testify are U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.), U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.), and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva.

"This hearing begins a conversation about the national security impact of losing qualified, capable service members," said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "We commend Congresswoman Susan Davis (D), Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, for her leadership in reviewing this obsolete law."

Davis has introduced legislation to repeal the ban.

Last month former US Sen. Sam Nunn (R), one of the principle lawmakers responsible for the passage in 1993 of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", said it is now time for Congress to revisit the law.

Under DADT two people every day are dropped from the military for being gay. In the 15 years that DADT has been in force, more than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of the policy, including 800 with skills deemed 'mission critical,' such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists.

The number of gay men and lesbians turned away by military recruiters is unknown. A study conducted last year for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network concluded that the U.S. military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays and lesbians in the military were able to be open about their sexual orientation.