Poll: 75% Support Openly Gay in Military

“Seventy-five percent of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll said gay people who are open about their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, up from 62 percent in early 2001 and 44 percent in 1993.

Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents alike now believe it is acceptable for openly gay people to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Shortly after he took office in 1993, Clinton faced strong resistance to his campaign pledge to lift the military’s ban on allowing gay people to enlist. At that time, 67 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of conservatives opposed the idea. A majority of independents, 56 percent, and 45 percent of Democrats also opposed changing the policy.”

Read the full story from The Washington Post.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell - Don’t Make A Difference

Congress should repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center. The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton’s policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation. Read more

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Setback For Military

A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that the military cannot automatically discharge soldiers because they’re gay. While opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy hailed the ruling as a nail in that policies coffin, the only immediate effect will be to force the military to prove that the gay soldier hurts morale and must be removed to restore unit cohesion. Link to story >>