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Gay News: The Pentagon has sent out a survey to 400,000 troops asking them how they feel about taking communal showers with gay men and lesbians.
By: Nigel Robinson
The questions form part of the review of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy
The questions form part of the review of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy
Pentagon asks how troops feel about taking showers with gays
The multi-choice answers include:
Take no action
Use the shower at a different time than the service member I thought to be gay or lesbian
Talk to a chaplain, mentor, or leader about how to handle the situation
The survey is part of the Pentagon’s review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, which currently prohibits openly gay servicemen and women from serving on the US military.
It follows a vote in favour of the repeal of DADT, subject to a study of the possible consequences of its repeal on troop morale.
Respondents to the survey are asked how comfortable they would be serving under a gay officer; whether they would absent themselves from a military social function if same-sex couples were invited; and if the repeal of DATD would affect their staying in the military.
The survey has received criticism from ServiceMembers United, a group representing gays and lesbians in the US military.
Its executive director, Alexander Nicholson, who was himself discharged under the DADT policy, said in a statement: “It is simply impossible to imagine a survey with such derogatory and insulting wording, assumptions, and insinuations going out about any other minority group in the military.”
The survey is being conducted by an independent consulting firm as the Pentagon is not allowed to question its troops about their sexuality.
Read the full survey here
