UPDATE: I'm not the only one livid with Obama and this utterly botched/slanted survey. John Aravosis at America Blog basically (and rightly) rips Obama and company a new one. 
Seriously, it's to the point where one would almost think that some within the Democratic Party are trying to make LGBT voters stay home come the November mid-term elections.
Seriously, it's to the point where one would almost think that some within the Democratic Party are trying to make LGBT voters stay home come the November mid-term elections.*
Despite the fact that the numerous military allies of the USA have changed their policies and allowed LGBT citizens to now openly serve in in their own military - all without any significant problems, the U.S. military is doing yet another needless survey on the issue of DADT repeal and, candidly, it looks like it's stacked to find fabricated problems so as to justify killing repeal. One question is in part as follows: "how they would react if they had to share a room, bathrooms, and open-bay showers in a war zone with other service members believed to be gay or lesbian." Can you imagine such a question being asked except with "black" or "African American" being substituted for gay or lesbian? Would Obama stand for such a question? Of course not - even though I suspect that many southern whites in the military would answer that they'd react negatively to serving with blacks.
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Reportedly the survey will be sent to service members via e-mail and asks about such issues as how unit morale or readiness might be affected if a commander is believed to be gay or lesbian; the need to maintain personal standards of conduct; and how repeal might affect willingness to serve in the military. Talk about seeking to script a self-fulfilling prophecy that repeal would cause problems. Compounding the outrageousness of the survey, there is NO guaranteed protection granted to LGBT service members that they will not be discharged if they honestly answer the survey honestly. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's recommendation to LGBT service members is to NOT answer the survey. Yes, this will tilt results even more potentially against repeal, but to do otherwise could end service members' careers. Here are highlights from SLDN's press release:
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"A number of service members have contacted SLDN to seek guidance on surveys concerning the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- the discriminatory law barring gay and lesbian service members from serving with integrity. At this time SLDN cannot recommend that lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members participate in any survey being administered by the Department of Defense, the Pentagon Working Group, or any third-party contractors. While the surveys are apparently designed to protect the individual's privacy, there is no guarantee of privacy and DOD has not agreed to provide immunity to service members whose privacy may be inadvertently violated or who inadvertently outs himself or herself. If a service member still wishes to participate, he or she should only do so in a manner that does not reveal sexual orientation."
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In response to my post about emigrating, I have received messages of support and messages to not give up and to continue to fight the good fight, etc. But when one sees deliberately biased and unnecessary crap like this survey, it's hard not to ask oneself, what's the point. I am so, so over unconstitutional religious based discrimination against gays being given a total pass in this nation.
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Reportedly the survey will be sent to service members via e-mail and asks about such issues as how unit morale or readiness might be affected if a commander is believed to be gay or lesbian; the need to maintain personal standards of conduct; and how repeal might affect willingness to serve in the military. Talk about seeking to script a self-fulfilling prophecy that repeal would cause problems. Compounding the outrageousness of the survey, there is NO guaranteed protection granted to LGBT service members that they will not be discharged if they honestly answer the survey honestly. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's recommendation to LGBT service members is to NOT answer the survey. Yes, this will tilt results even more potentially against repeal, but to do otherwise could end service members' careers. Here are highlights from SLDN's press release:
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"A number of service members have contacted SLDN to seek guidance on surveys concerning the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- the discriminatory law barring gay and lesbian service members from serving with integrity. At this time SLDN cannot recommend that lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members participate in any survey being administered by the Department of Defense, the Pentagon Working Group, or any third-party contractors. While the surveys are apparently designed to protect the individual's privacy, there is no guarantee of privacy and DOD has not agreed to provide immunity to service members whose privacy may be inadvertently violated or who inadvertently outs himself or herself. If a service member still wishes to participate, he or she should only do so in a manner that does not reveal sexual orientation."
*
In response to my post about emigrating, I have received messages of support and messages to not give up and to continue to fight the good fight, etc. But when one sees deliberately biased and unnecessary crap like this survey, it's hard not to ask oneself, what's the point. I am so, so over unconstitutional religious based discrimination against gays being given a total pass in this nation.
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