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Washington Post: Gay Rights Group Warns Service Members Not to Take “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Survey

Washington Post
Federal Eye
By Ed O'Keefe
July 8, 2010

Gay rights group warns service members not to take 'don't ask, don't tell' survey

A leading gay rights group pushing for a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is warning gay and lesbian service members not to participate in a Defense Department survey distributed this week to active-duty and reserve troops.

The Pentagon is studying the potential impact of repealing the gay ban and on Wednesday began e-mailing troops a link to a survey with more than 100 questions. The survey will be included in a final report due to President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen by Dec. 1.

But the nonpartisan Servicemembers Legal Defense Network reminded gay and lesbian service members on Thursday that the military is still enforcing the gay ban and that completing the survey could result in a discharge.

About 200,000 active-duty troops and 200,000 reserve troops will receive the survey, which should take no more than 30 minutes to complete, the Pentagon said. Troops have until Aug. 15 to complete it. Another 150,000 family members of troops will receive a separate survey in early August.

The survey asks service members about their general experiences in the military, about past experiences serving with people they believe are gay or lesbian and for opinions on how repealing the gay ban might impact retention, referrals, unit cohesion, privacy and military family life, the Pentagon said.

SLDN said it worried gay and lesbian service members could be outed by the survey.

“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," SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement. "If a service member still wishes to participate, he or she should only do so in a manner that does not reveal sexual orientation.”

After a service member completes the survey, he or she can provide extended comments to a "confidential online dialogue" established by the Defense Department. Service members will be given a PIN code to access the program, which is being operated by independent research firm Westat.

"This PIN code has no personally identifying data associated with it," the Pentagon said in a statement. "Westat moderators will not ask individuals for any personally identifying information. If a service member shares his/her name with the Westat moderator, that information will be held in confidence, deleted from the Westat files, and not shared with anyone – including DoD."

Troops who do not receive a survey can provide comments to the online dialogue at www.defense.gov/DADT.

The White House in May brokered a deal between lawmakers and gay rights groups that would repeal the Clinton-era policy by ensuring that any change would not take effect until after the Pentagon completes its study. The House approved the measure as part of the annual defense spending bill and the Senate is expected approve it later this year.

Republican lawmakers said passing a repeal before completion of the Pentagon study would deter service members and their families from participating. Gates provided only tepid support of the agreement and later reminded troops that repeal is still months away.

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