More than 400,000 active-duty and reserve troops were asked by the Pentagon for their opinions on allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and 115,052 responded.
About 70 percent of the troops responding said they thought serving with an openly gay person would have a neutral or positive effect. Results were decidedly different for combat units, where at least 40 percent (48 percent for Army troops and 58 percent for Marines) said the change would negatively affect their ability to fight.
ANONYMOUS QUOTES
"How far are we going to go with this whole gay thing? Am I supposed to celebrate gayness -- do they get to wear a rainbow flag on their uniform? If that is the case, this uniform isn't worth wearing."
"Gays and lesbians have been serving in the Armed Forces since the inception of our country. They love this country just as much as heterosexuals."
WHAT'S NEXT?
The House voted for repeal of the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" law earlier this year. Senate Democrats plan to force a vote on the measure, possibly next week, in the lame-duck Congress. The legislation would require 60 votes to advance if Sen. John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, continues to block it.
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