Gays in the Military: Military Service Members okay with Gay Soldiers

Banning gays in the military because they were thought to be a threat to security is an argument that is holding less and less weight. One argument that is often cited is that US soldiers will not feel safe with gays in their ranks. This argument is no longer true. A poll of military personnel in December 2006 shows that a whopping 73% would accept openly gay and lesbian military members. This is a huge jump from 1993, when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was instituted. Then only 13% of soldiers favored the right of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces.

A survey by Zogby International of 545 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan also found that nearly one in four U.S. soldiers (23%) knows for sure that someone in their unit is gay or lesbian. Most of them learned of the person’s sexual orientation from the gay or lesbian soldier themselves. According to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” service members are not allowed to say they are gay.

Will Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell be Repealed?

With a new Secretary of Defense and a military that is having a hard time recruiting new soldiers for an unpopular war, will the United States repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” According to Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), "These new data prove that thousands of gay and lesbian service members are already deployed overseas and are integrated, important members of their units. It is long past time to strike down 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and create a new policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve openly."

Read the full study about gays in the military here