Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Promising New Data

The Washington Post did a good job today in some fresh reporting on attitudes among the troops they interviewed. We see, again, military attitudes toward gay service members are not what they used to be. As the Post notes, "A younger and more liberal corps of commanders and soldiers has given rise to bubbles of tolerance in today's military, an institution that soldiers describe as still largely unwelcoming and wary of gays, according to interviews with more than a dozen enlisted troops and officers, both gay and straight."

In addition to straight SMs knowing gay people, unlike their older generation counterparts, fewer commanders want to kick out the skilled patriots during two wars. Says the Post, "In recent years, service members and researchers say, a growing number of gay troops have disclosed their sexual orientation to supervisors and comrades. They say they are buoyed by a sense that wartime commanders are increasingly reluctant to lose skilled troops to a ban many now view as archaic."

Today's Quinnipiac Poll is more good news. According to the poll, a clear majority - 57 percent - of military families believe repeal would not be divisive or undermine military readiness.

Military culture has changed and is in more in line with Admiral Mullen, Secretary Gates, and Gens. Powell and Shalikashvili and the commander-in-chief: gays and lesbians should serve their country without conditions. It's time for our Senators to vote for repeal this year.

02-10-10 By Paul DeMiglio, Senior Communications Manager |