Complete DADT Survey Results

The full Pentagon study on DADT repeal is out and overall it is very positive for those who support of the Christianist backed DADT policy. Not unexpectedly, professional gay-haters like the folks at FRC and ass kissing GOP members of Congress (in addition to John McSenile and the Palmetto Queen, Lindsey Graham) are in hyperventilation with spittle spraying all about. Andrew Sullivan summarizes the report findings as follows:
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And the report is absolutely clear that straight servicemembers by large majorities have few problems with openly gay servicemembers. 69 percent of them acknowledge they have fought or worked alongside gay men and women already. A staggering 92 percent of those were fine with lifting the ban. Again: when you know someone is gay, all the fears and stereotypes tend to evaporate.
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Likely adding to the hysteria of repeal opponents is the statement made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates who urged Congress to act before the courts do so. Here are highlights from the wonk room at Think Progress:
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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates offered the strongest endorsement of the Pentagon’s Working Group study of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this afternoon, warning opponents of repeal that if they “choose not to act legislatively,” they are “rolling the dice that this policy will not be abruptly overturned by the Courts.” “It is only a matter of time before the federal courts are drawn once more into the fray, with the very real possibility that this change would be imposed immediately by judicial fiat –- by far the most disruptive and damaging scenario I can imagine, and the one most hazardous to military morale, readiness and battlefield performance,” he said, urging Congress to “pass this legislation and send it to the president for signature before the end of this year."
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Obviously, the existence of the report will make it far more difficult for courts to find that there is any rational basis - indeed any basis - for DADT except religious derived discrimination. Among the report details is a summary of the policies of other nations. As the chart above demonstrates, it is down right embarrassing that Azerbaijan is more progressive than the USA in terms of its policy on gays in the military. Here is the full survey report (NOTE: it's a huge document and loads slowly).