Survey ‘casts doubt’ on recruits’ reluctance to serve with gays

[kweerwolf]

Resistance to serving in the military alongside openly gay people may not be as strong as expected.
Lifting the Defense Department ban on service by openly gay service members would have no effect on the decision to enlist of 76 percent of those questioned in a new survey released Monday. The survey was commissioned by the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, a research institute affiliated with the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Twenty-one percent of those surveyed said the presence of openly gay service members would deter their service, and 2 percent said they would be more likely to join the military if openly gay service members were allowed.

Aaron Belkin, the research institute’s director, said the survey “may cast some doubt” on the argument that having opening gay service members would hurt morale and deter enlistment.

http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1164761.php

[w13rd0]

1. That's good...

...but it's kind of convienient this comes up now...hey! don't let being gay stop ya! we still need warm bodies to fill uniforms in Iraq. so come on down and sign up!

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. While bigots write law, public opinion is irrelevant

Until DADT is dead and gay people can serve openly and honorably, changes in public opinion aren't worth a snake's fart.