Detestable as it is, it can be argued as a good thing. The particularly odious instruction that was 'don't ask, don't tell' allowed the current of homophobia that plagues the armed forces to remain unchallenged whilst appeasing and mitigating the objections of those that might lobby for the institution to drop its thinly veiled homophobia. By allowing homosexuals to be soldiers, whilst still supporting the attitude that homosexuality should remain as a hidden and shameful thing, was a product of the army's desire to send as many young men as possible to die and the need to remain legal and not discriminate. So they allowed gay people to be soldiers but with the caveat that the status quo attitude of 'dirty gays' must remain.
Now that 'don't ask, don't tell' has come to an end as a policy, the issue of homosexuality in the army and, therefore, the armies attitude towards gay people, must again be faced, rather than being allowed to continue unchallenged under a detrimental and offensive device such as 'don't ask, don't tell' was.