Most troops Don't Oppose Serving with Gays

The leaked results of the Pentagon/Department of Defense survey of troops on the potential elimination of DADT prove that most service members could care less about the personal lives and/or sexual orientation of their fellow soldiers and sailors. The leaked results demonstrate that other than (i) professional homophobes like Elaine Donnelly and Tony Perkins who make a comfortable living off of marketing hate, (ii) the fossilized senior ranks of the military brass, and (iii) pandering and/or spineless politicians, no one believes that repeal of DADT is a problem or that repeal will in any way interfere with military readiness. The leaked results clearly show that the far right's whining about an exodus from the military if DADT is repealed is complete bullshit - something most of us non-Kool-Aid drinkers already knew. Yes, there are some who said they'd leave the military if DADT is repealed - just as I'm sure some members of the military did after Harry Truman integrated the military. But as a nation, do we want to be aiding and abetting bigotry? Here are some highlights from the Washington Post:

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A majority of active-duty and reserve service members surveyed by the Defense Department would not object to serving and living alongside openly gay troops, according to multiple people familiar with the findings.

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The survey's results are expected to be included in a Pentagon report, due to President Obama on Dec. 1, regarding how the military would end enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" law that bans openly gay men and lesbians from serving in uniform.

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Military officials did not say how many troops completed the survey, but at least 103,000 had done so just days before it was due, according to the Pentagon. A similar survey was later sent to military spouses.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is expected to rule Friday on whether the military can continue enforcing the ban while it considers a legal challenge against it.