Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, dismissed concerns Wednesday that allowing openly gay soldiers to serve in the military would damper morale. Levin pointed to several other nations that have allowed gay men and women to serve without any impact on unit cohesion or morale.

“We have asked about this in hearings,” said Levin. “We have been assured that there is no diminution of readiness or morale.”(0:36)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Sofia Sanchez – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

A new poll released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows the general public is less opposed to allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. military. 54 percent of those surveyed said they support repealing the current policy, compared to 35 percent who were opposed.

“It’s safe to say that it is no longer a question of if the ["Don't Ask Don't Tell"] policy will be repealed, but how,” said Senior Vice President for external affairs at CAP Winnie Stachelberg during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.

Yet another poll shows there is also a shift of support for the repeal among active military members.

“Attitudes are changing among career oriented service members,” said Brendan McGarry, of Military Times, who also took part in Wednesday’s call.

A study conducted by Military Times shows attitudes are shifting in support of allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly. 30 percent of active-duty military members support ending “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” That number is up compared to 2003 when only 24 percent supported open service.

The Military Times study also found that two percent of active duty members identify themselves as being gay or bisexual. In addition, the study also found that women in the military were three times more likely than men to report being gay or bisexual.

“The military will be stronger, not weaker if this change is made,” said Stan Greensberg, with the public research group Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

For more information on The Center for American Progress study visit: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/02/dadt_poll.html

For more information on The Military Times study visit: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2010/02/military_dont_ask_dont_tell_021510w/

Ruy Texiera, a Senior Fellow at The Center for American Progress, says support for repealing the military’s controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is increasing due to the general public becoming more tolerant and accepting of homosexuals. (0:33)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

President Barack Obama said Monday during a speech commemorating the work of LGBT leaders that he is working with Congress and the Pentagon to find a practical way to repeal the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (0:25)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Justin Duckham and Learned Foote-Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama took what he described as “a historic step” Wednesday evening as he signed an executive order granting limited federal benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

The executive order will give the U.S. Office of Personnel Management the authority to issue directives stating that any discrimination not based on work related factors is illegal. This would include sexual orientation and gender expression.

The President conceded that there was still much work to be done to achieve full legal equality for gays in the U.S., but noted that he planned on working with Congress to take future legislative action, including the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bans gays from serving in the military, was not mentioned. During the 2008 election, Obama pledged that once President, it would be repealed.

 

 Standard Podcast [3:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download