Back in September, The Daily Show’s Jason Jones sat down with Paul Cameron, one of the nation’s leading anti-gay activists, to ask about a defense for the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Specifically, Jones asked about Bleu Copas, a decorated sergeant and Arabic language specialist who joined the Army after the 9/11 attacks, but was thrown out for being gay, despite his role in helping translate intercepted messages from possible terrorists.
Cameron said, “I think the country, on the aggregate, is safer without Bleu in the military.” Asked why, Cameron explained, “Guys don’t want to think about other guys, other fellas, ogling them in the shower or whatever.” Jones responded, “I know I’d rather die in a terrorist attack than suffer through an uncomfortable shower with a gay.” Cameron grudgingly responded, “Yes.”
As it turns out, a new Zogby poll shows that men and women in uniform disagree.
A new poll reveals that 73% of military members say they are comfortable around lesbians and gays. And 23% say they know an active duty soldier in their unit who is lesbian or gay…. More than half — 55% — of the troops who know a gay peer said the presence of gays or lesbians in their unit is well known by others. […]
“Those who defend the law have argued that openly gay personnel harm military readiness. This research highlights the absurdity of such a hypothesis,” said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
Only 5% of troops said they are “very uncomfortable” around gays.
For years, conservatives have said allowing gay people to wear a uniform and put their lives on the line for their country would undermine troop morale and lead to fewer Americans signing up for military service, because soldiers are ill at ease around gay people. The claim was always weak, but with poll results like these, it’s pretty thoroughly debunked.
Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.), who’s leading the charge to undo the existing policy, said “These new data prove that thousands of gay and lesbian service members are already deployed overseas and are integrated, important members of their units. It is long past time to strike down ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and create a new policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve openly.”
And what about showers?
Zogby covered that one, too.
Prominent supporters of “don’t ask, don’t tell” have expressed concerns about privacy in the shower, [Dr. Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center, who has written widely on the subject] said, but nearly three out of four troops said in the Zogby poll that they usually or almost always take showers privately – only 8% say they usually or almost always take showers in group stalls.
I suppose the bottom line is that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, in addition to being dumb, is creating a bizarre dichotomy in which gay people are already serving, but know that they are one rumor away from a discharge.
* In combat units, 21% said they know for certain that someone in their unit is gay or lesbian.
* In combat support units (25%) and combat service support units (22%) know and work alongside gays and lesbians.
* One in five troops (20%) in other units said they know for certain someone is gay or lesbian in their unit.
* Nearly half (45%) say there are people in their unit they believe to be gay or lesbian, but they don’t know for sure.
* Slightly more than half (52%) say they have received training on the prevention of anti-gay harassment in the past three years;
* However, 40% say they have not received this type of training, which is mandated by Defense Department policy.
I realize this won’t be a top policy agenda item anytime soon, but it’s still indefensible, particularly in a time of war.