LGBT Groups Still Split on DOD Troops Survey
[UPDATE: The Pentagon held a news conference for reporters regarding the survey at 4:15 p.m. Friday afternoon. My report, “Pentagon Pushes Back,” details what was — and wasn’t — said.]
The dueling responses of LGBT groups to the Pentagon survey relating to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy continued on Friday following the release of at least 32 pages of the survey by the Palm Center. Servicemembers United and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network continue to recommend conflicting advice to gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers. SLDN is the only group to recommend against LGB servicemember participation in the survey.
SU executive director Alex Nicholson:
“While it remains safe for gay and lesbian troops to participate in this survey, 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.”
SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis:
“As a legal services group, our focus is on ensuring adequate legal protections for those gay and lesbian service members that participate in the surveys. We continue to have discussions with DOD and are working to make sure gay and lesbian service members are protected. At this time, our warning stands that gay and lesbian service members should not take the survey unless adequate legal protections are put in place.
Download a copy of the survey — which The Washington Post reports that the Pentagon says is incomplete — released by the Palm Center:
2010-DoD-Comprehensive-Review-Survey-of-Uniformed-Active-Duty-and-Reserve-Service-Members.pdf
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
