End ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, say top brass

Some top brass in the United States armed forces want an end to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gay service members.

However, a new poll from the rank and file shows that half oppose such a repeal. A survey by the Military Times of 3,000 readers who are on active duty – taken from among the newspapers it publishes – shows that about 51 per cent said they oppose repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” “Marines were most likely to be against open service by gays, with 64 percent taking that position. Fifty-two percent of Army soldiers, 48 percent of Air Force airmen and 45 percent of Navy sailors shared that point of view,” says the Chicago Sun-Times. “Fifty-seven percent of the respondents said they believe a member of their unit is gay. About 2 percent identified themselves as gay or bisexual, while 3 percent said they were unsure or declined to answer.”