New Survey Shows 63 Percent of Military Families Favor Keeping 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy

Poll Asks Central Question that Pentagon Failed to Ask

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Security Policy and the Family Research Council today released a jointly commissioned public opinion survey showing almost 63 percent of active duty and retired military families oppose overturning the policy prohibiting open homosexuality in the military, commonly referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The national survey of more than 10,000 members from each branch of the military community was conducted by CC Advertising and completed on November 27.

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The CSP-FRC poll asked whether the current ban on open homosexuality should be overturned. In contrast, the Pentagon's much-ballyhooed military member survey which is expected to be released later today failed to pose this central question. Most national polls do not focus on the military community.

"The voices that matter most in this debate are those of the men and women serving in uniform – and they overwhelmingly say 'no' to homosexuality in the military," said Center for Security Policy President Frank Gaffney.

"While the American public is clearly divided over open homosexuality in the military, this new data indicates the folks who matter most – the men and women in uniform who are willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us – are overwhelmingly opposed to changing the law. The four military service chiefs have testified to this strong opposition, which may be one reason why the Obama Administration's survey of the military failed to ask the central question of whether the ban on open homosexuality should be overturned," added Gaffney.

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council and a Marine Corps veteran, added: "The military community's lopsided opposition to changing the law should be a cause of concern for Members of Congress who have been subjected to date to the selective and one-sided leaks of the Pentagon's flawed study. Our survey flatly contradicts the misleading impression those leaks have been intended to cultivate. Even if 'most' servicemen and women could accommodate themselves to the radical homosexual agenda, the loss of many of those now in the military or who are considering signing up would be devastating to the all volunteer force.

"We urge Congress to defer any action on repealing a policy that works until they have had an opportunity to fulfill their duty to the American people by holding comprehensive hearings to ensure such a drastic change will not adversely affect our armed forces and national security in time of war."

A news conference will be held at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Family Research Council's headquarters at 801 G Street, NW to discuss the survey findings and the expected release of the Pentagon's own survey.

Click here to download a full copy of the CC Advertising survey showing almost 63 percent of the military community opposed to changing current law.

SOURCE Family Research Council