WASHINGTON, DC, September 19, 2011 – OutServe, the association of actively-serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military members, today released the results of its latest survey of LGBT military personnel. With final repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” imminent, more than twice as many responded to this survey than responded in the spring.

Many respondents expressed their expectation that there would be few problems with repeal, with 67% saying they expected their colleagues would treat them “universally” or “generally” without discrimination. As one wrote:

“Lots of people at work know a friend of mine is gay, and there have been no negative reactions toward him. As for another friend in a combat unit, the whole unit knew he was gay and no one cared.”

Many expressed their relief at not having to lie any more, and their continuing commitment to serve their country:

“We are professionals. The fact that we put our personal lives aside to put on a uniform and serve is a testament to our commitment to supporting and defending the constitution.”

“The repeal of DADT allows LGBT troops to do what their straight counterparts already take for granted – to share and talk about life events without fear of repercussion. Shared experience can only lead to a better understanding of who we are as individuals, and contribute to the same mission: protection of those we love and service to our country.”

The online survey was completed anonymously by over five hundred LGBT Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel during the week of September 13, 2011: one week prior to the end of DADT. Since survey respondents are self-selected, the survey is not authoritative, but is a likely indication of the current status of LGBT troops.

KEY FINDINGS

Survey responses doubled since May 2011
Responses to the OutServe Survey more than doubled since the previous survey, conducted in May 2011. The low response in May – 224 members – was attributed to fear of identifying oneself, even in a confidential survey, as LGBT. In the most recent survey, we received 533 responses.

Many are already “out,” anticipate acceptance
An overwhelming 78% indicated that they are “out” to at least some in their unit. Thirty-eight percent said they had come out to more people since the DADT law was repealed. Asked if they would take a significant other to a unit event, 30% said “definitely,” and another 29% said they “likely” would. This optimistic response is also reflected in how they expect their units will treat LGB members: two-thirds indicated they expected their colleagues would treat them “universally” or “generally” with respect, and free from discrimination.

Trust in the Chain of Command
As in the previous survey, most LGB troops reported that, if they have issues with harassment or unfair treatment, they would most prefer to go their chain of command (55%) rather than their Equal Opportunity Rep (19%), the Inspector General’s office (7%), or a chaplain (3%).
Also, a very high number, 84%, found the DADT training was conducted professionally (“very professional,” “generally professional,” or “neutral”).

Over 20% in committed relationships
Given the youth of the respondents, it is unsurprising that 58% are single; however, 21% reported they are in a committed long-term relationship, either in a same-sex marriage or civil union, or “would be married if allowed by the state.”

View detailed survey results here. Contact Sue Fulton, 908-256-6727, sue.fulton@outserve.org for more information.

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OutServe is the association of actively-serving LGBT military personnel. With over 4,000 members and 42 chapters worldwide, it is the one of the largest LGBT employee resource groups in the world. OutServe works to support a professional network of LGBT military personnel and create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Some of the highlights from the survey include a whopping 78% of respondents who indicated that they were “out” to at least some in their unit, with 28% saying they came out after the law was changed in December. When asked if they would come out to their unit after repeal has been certified, 28% said they would not tell anyone that does not currently know, and 30% said they were not sure.

In an attempt to assess the conduct and professionalism of the training from leadership, OutServe found that a majority of troops (58%) said that it was “very professional,” “generally professional,” or about “neutral.” When asked whether or not troops would feel comfortable bringing their significant other to military sponsored events, almost 60% of those surveyed said they definitely or likely would.

Another hotly debated topic concerning DADT, is to whom troops would seek advice from in the event of harassment or discrimination. Respondents from the survey, by 56%, said they would either use their chain of command (CoC) or a Commander. The same percentage was noted as well when a similar question asked if the harassment were persistent, would they turn to Military Equal Opportunity office or stay within the CoC/supervisor—a majority clearly favored the latter.

The last question of the survey asked troops what they would tell the Pentagon, if anything, concerning LGBT troops and DADT repeal. Many comments offered high praise for the leadership exhibited by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. Others expressed dismay about not having the same benefits as their heterosexual peers, such as housing and pay. Finally, a few members expressed a strong desire to remind the DoD that few LGBT personnel have HIV/AIDS, as some training briefings conflated the topic too often. Important to note in this finding is that a 2007 report from U.S. Military HIV Research Program demonstrated that the amount of HIV infections has remained the same for the past 17 years, in spite of the fact that LGBTs have been serving alongside their straight counterparts since the existence of the U.S. military.

Overall, the survey provided invaluable insight into the minds of LGBT troops, with a clear majority pleased with the way implementation has moved forward since its repeal in December.
EAS

DoD Updates Congress on DADT Repeal Implementation; New Law’s Opponents Use Hearings as Soapbox

By D. Small

In the midst of a government wide shut down threat over a budget impasse, the Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee (HASC) held two hearings in April on the status of the Department of Defense’s implementation plans to repeal the law banning gays and lesbians from open uniformed service.

The hearings were to serve as a progress report on each services’ efforts conducting training on implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but instead, resulted in a frenzy of rhetoric from repeal opponents. Despite this, DoD representatives ultimately said they expect to complete training by midsummer and that it is going well.

To the chagrin of the Republican opposition looking for holes in the implementation plan, the process has had no impact to combat troops said Joint Staff Director Vice Adm. William Gortney, at the first hearing April 1 to the HASC’s Subcommittee for Military Personnel.

Those combat troops (Army infantry and Marine Corps) were the ones who most opposed the repeal, according to the 2010 DoD survey released in December. Despite this, some committee members used the hearing to voice discontent.

“It is essential that Congress ask some of the questions that were glossed over,” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), the chairman of the subcommittee said at the April 1st hearing. “We must ensure that we do not make a mistake by allowing the repeal to move ahead when there is any possibility that it will put the combat readiness of our force at risk at a time our nation is in three wars with worldwide instability.”

Others pushed the opposition further, like freshman Tea Partier Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), who said, “I hope that as we move forward that we’re able to undo some of these things.”

The HASC chairman, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), was a vocal foe of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal last year, casting “no” votes each time measures came to the House floor. He held a second hearing April 7th for the full committee, with the uniformed heads of each service testifying. Represented were Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli.

Public statements by each since the Christmas vote have shown all service chiefs are on board with repeal implementation.

“It’s not the first time in history it has occurred to somebody that they are serving with gays and lesbians,” said HASC ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), applauding the efforts of each service chief. “The debate on whether to allow gays and lesbians to serve in uniform has ended. It is time to focus on preparing the force and ensuring that leadership, professionalism, and respect is the hallmark in how we treat all members of the Armed Forces.”

Gay rights advocates said they don’t anticipate these hearings will have any impact on the repeal process. Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United, said the hearings were “another blatant waste of resources. Troops are more worried about seeing that a government shutdown does not happen so that they can still get paid next week than they are about the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy coming to an end.”

Ironically, the April 7th hearing had to pause so members could vote on extending the budget. “We have to go vote so we can keep paying you,” Rep. McKeon told the service chiefs.

Mr. Nicholson went on further to say, “This issue has been settled, the Department of Defense has embraced this change, and trying to re-open this debate is a waste of both taxpayer money and the valuable time of these senior defense leaders in the midst of multiple overseas conflicts. The Joint Staff has made it clear that prior predictions of doom and gloom following repeal were misguided and that their respective services are more than capable of handling this change in policy.”

TRAINING STATUS

The training itself is designed for three groups: tier 1 (the experts, such as chaplains, recruiters, lawyers, human resources, etc); tier 2 (commanders, leaders in DoD – both military and civilian); and tier 3 (the force at large). Each military service designed its own training slides with a focus on four principles: leadership, professionalism, discipline, and respect.

As of April 1st, only about 9 percent of the force (or 200,000 troops) had been trained so far, said Admiral Gortney. However, most Tier 1 and 2 training in each service has been completed since then.

Clifford Stanley, the Pentagon’s Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness, told members at the April 1st hearing that the process underway will not be rushed, “because we want to make sure that it’s done right, but at the same time, we don’t want to take forever to do it.” He also said the training “was going well.”

Stanley further said it is too early to indicate any effects on recruitment or retention, but that nothing adverse has occurred in units who have completed training. Admiral Roughead echoed these same comments, saying that no effect on recruiting or retention has occurred.

The Army is tracking to complete training for 565,000 active duty soldiers by July, and 567,000 Guard and Reserve members by August. The Navy is scheduled to complete training by July 1st, Marine Corps by May 31st, and the Air Force and Coast Guard by the summer. Depending on the length of time it takes to accomplish the training, certification could most likely happen this fall.

Revealed during the hearing is Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ involvement. He personally met with service chiefs and combatant commanders twice to monitor progress, reporting that there have been no issues thus far with the repeal.

For those in the service opposing repeal, the training doesn’t clarify what may happen to any objectors. Thus far, no requests have become public. According to the Navy slides, “Consistent with the new policy, sailors may not be discharged early for opposing the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Early discharges will be granted ‘when in the best interest of the Navy.’”

Admiral Roughead said one of the problems with his service was that too many people want to stay in the Navy, implying that anybody who did want to come forward and resign due to the implementation may help end-strength.

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS

All testified they are using the “Support Plan for Implementation: Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” report in implementing their training programs.

General Amos said that even after the training was complete, he would use subjective measurements, including surveys, before recommending certification.

Chairman McKeon asked each of the service chiefs their opinion on the level of risk they feel the implementation will cause. The Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs still said there was moderate risk to repeal, but no issues have arisen thus far.

“We are mitigating the risk, but I’m more comfortable with implementation than I was in December,” said General Schwartz.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) questioned why the service chiefs are allowing risk in changing a policy, and asked them when they have ever recommended a policy putting military forces at moderate risk? Generals Schwartz and Amos both responded that going to war places a heavy risk on servicemembers.

Ironically, the chief most opposed to repeal last December, General Amos, seems to have developed a new opinion since then. “There’s not been the anxiety over it from the field,” said General Amos. “Quite honestly, they’re focused on the enemy,” referencing the views of his Marine commanders in Afghanistan.

When asked about standards of discipline, Admiral Roughead said the same rules under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice will apply equally to homosexuals as they do to heterosexuals with regard to sexual harassment and other regulations.

“It’s not as if we have to create new policies,” he said.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) questioned General Schwartz regarding the 14,000 gays and lesbians forced out under the 17 year-old policy to find out how members can appeal for reentry into the force. General Schwartz responded that each case would be looked at on an individual basis with regards to the needs of each service.

END GAME

After decisive action by the lame duck Congress at Christmas, President Obama signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal into law, but the actual policy change won’t take effect until military training is completed and leadership certify readiness, recruitment and retention will not suffer by the law’s enactment.

“You can rest assured that each one of us will give our best military advice to the Chairman,” said General Schwartz.

Once that recommendation is given by each Service, and ultimately, the President, there will be a 60-day waiting period before implementation occurs.

“I’m absolutely confident that good order and discipline will prevail at the end of the day,” said General Amos during testimony, also noting that “persistent leadership” by NCOs and officers will ensure readiness.

Freshman Rep. Allen West (R-FL), an Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel who served in Iraq, said, “We don’t have to sit up here and banter. This is going to happen.”