WASHINGTONThe Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) is encouraged by early reports that show positive attitudes among service members toward the integration of openly gay and lesbian troops. A majority of troops surveyed do not object to serving alongside openly gay troops. Given that an estimated 60,000 gays and lesbians presently serve in silence in the U.S. military, these results are consistent with the fact that troops value professional performance on the battlefield over discriminatory and unjust policies.
"While we are gratified that the initial results of this survey are positive and that our troops are fair and respectful of their gay and lesbian colleagues, we continue to question the wisdom of surveying people on a discriminatory law that runs contrary to our national security interests," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Following the elections, it is critical that senators pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes repeal. It would be a travesty if senators, for the first time in over 4o years, did not pass the law that includes a pay raise for our troops and authorization for several key weapons systems simply because some don't want to see gays and lesbians openly serving their country."
More than 30 foreign countries, including key U.S. allies like Israel and the United Kingdom, allow open service by lesbian and gay troops. In anticipation of open service, some troops threatened to leave military service if lesbians and gays were allowed to serve but that threat never materialized and there have been no negative results to open service.
From an SLDN News Relese, Oct. 29, 2010
Pentagon Survey Shows Majority of Military Troops, Families Support "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN ) , a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) , released a statement today on the results of an internal Pentagon study that shows most military personnel and their families support open service for gays and are not opposed to repealing the DADT law. Read The Associated Press story by Anne Flaherty: http://wapo.st/bOBAfu.
Statement by Army veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:
"The majority of young troops are okay serving side by side with their gay comrades, and their attitudes reflect how most Americans feel about open service: It's no big deal, let's move on and get the job done. No one should be surprised if a vocal minority, for a short window, might well object, as some did when segregation in the ranks ended and women were admitted to the service academies. In the military you get over your objections or you get out. It's clear that a majority of Americans in both the military and civilian spheres agree that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is outdated and needs to go. Congress needs to catch up and the Senate should immediately act on repeal legislation when it returns to Washington."
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WARNING: Gay and lesbian service members OR those interested in signing up to serve and have questions may contact the SLDN hotline to speak with a staff attorney: 202-328-3244 x100. SLDN also re-issued its warning to active-duty service members, including those in the reserves and the national guard, to know they're at risk. Anyone with questions or concerns should call our hotline or visit: www.SLDN.org/StillAtRisk.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( www.sldn.org ) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A journalists' guide is available here.