Five Months Later, Repeal Of DADT Has Had LIttle Impact On The Military
Yesterday, a Military Times poll was released showing that there has been little impact on military morale in the five months since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed:
Prior to the repeal of DADT, advocates on both sides of the debate about open service by gays put high stakes on the outcome.
The Center for Military Readiness warned of “harmful consequences” in the week after top Pentagon officials certified that the military was ready for repeal, as required by Congress.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in contrast, said repeal was “a significant step toward equality for all who want to serve their country in uniform,” one that would no longer force gay, lesbian and bisexual service members to “hide a part of themselves.”
But neither prediction is being realized, based on responses to the 2012 Military Times Poll from the 25 active-duty service members who indicated that they are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Only one had come out of the closet at work since repeal; the rest either said their unit members knew about their orientation before repeal, or they continue to keep their orientation private.
The impact among heterosexual service members is also less significant than expected.
In the 2011 Military Times Poll, 59 percent of active-duty respondents said they did not believe they would be affected by the repeal. When service members were asked this year how they were affected after the repeal, 69 percent said they had felt no impact.
Although units where someone disclosed they are gay, lesbian or bisexual after repeal felt more of a change, 59 percent still said the repeal had no noticeable effect.
In addition, although 10 percent of 2011 respondents said they would be less likely to remain in military housing after DADT repeal, just 2 percent said this year that they moved.
Respondents were more likely to say someone’s disclosure of gay or lesbian orientation had a negative effect on their unit than a positive effect, but more than three times as many respondents said it simply didn’t matter.
In other words, all the panic being spread by the opponents of repeal was much ado about nothing.
Gasp!
Which leads us to ask how many brave men & women who were ready to fight and die for their country were forced to live a lie while they served?
I hope all the armchair warriors who sat at home on their asses spewing bile at people who stepped up for their country are proud of themselves.
Makes you wonder how long the GOP candidates will continue promising to reinstate DADT. Don’t mistake that for optimism though, the smart money is still on later rather than sooner.
@David M: Depends on if your Rick “Bible stuck up my butt” Santorum or not.
You mean Satan has not taken over the military? I shocked, just shocked!
@David M: How long? As long as it is red meat for the base.
Doug, et al:
I can already fill in the counter-claims for the objectors:
The persons polled were too scared or were intimidated into saying no impact! They were harangued or felt threatened to voice their overwhelming objections or fears on the basis that their superior officers or President Barry Sotero would personally order their assassination for being a supposed threat to his agenda, under the guise of threatening the union! No, really! The service members were not free to voice their real concerns and tell their real stories of sexual harassment and fending off sexual assaults in the showers and in the middle of fire-fights with the *other* enemies…
Without so much exaggeration, they will attack the veracity of the results based on the threatening environment of being a voice of complaint or discomfort.
Robert,
Oh I know what they’ll do and you’ve got it about right.
It’s ironic that people who claim to support the troops are so willing to denegrate them and question their commitment to their duty and their country when it suits their political agenda, isn’t it?
@Doug Mataconis: Like a few years ago when the GOP filibustered a military spending bill just to push back the vote on the healthcare bill until after Christmas?
@Doug Mataconis: “It’s ironic that people who claim to support the troops are so willing to denegrate them and question their commitment to their duty and their country when it suits their political agenda, isn’t it? ”
No, it isn’t. I’m sorry, but I’ve been watching (and when young, participating) in this sorry spectacle for far too long to appreciate the irony anymore. It’s just sad and pathetic.
@Doug Mataconis:
You mean like the Democrats proposals to cut pensions for the military or healthcare benefits for military retirees or to make a military career less attractive.
During the Bush Administraiton, Democrats ripped Republicans for proposing cuts in the G.I. Bill. Yet, now, Democrats are treating larger cuts to veterans benefits and no one cares.
@superdestroyer:
No, they are not