Conservatives, Churchgoers Show Increased Support for Gays in Military

By CQ-Roll Call Staff | June 5, 2009 5:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Americans who favor allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to service in the military has risen from 63 percent in 2004 to 69 percent, according to a Gallup poll conducted May 7-10.

Gallup said that while liberals and Democrats provide the most support for that view, the biggest increase has been among conservatives - who have gone from 46 percent in favor to 58 percent - and people who identify themselves as weekly churchgoers, whose support has risen from 49 percent to 60 percent.

Gallup says this public sentiment essentially amounts to support for repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy adopted under President Clinton in 1993. President Obama promised during the 2008 campaign he would work to end the policy, but the administration has taken no action yet.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in January, when asked about the pledge, that the administration's first focus was on the economy, "so not everything will get done in the beginning." But Gibbs said "he's committed to following through."

Some 200 people have been discharged for homosexuality since Obama took office, Gallup said.

Gallup said, "As the Obama administration weighs the political and military consequences of a policy change on this issue, it can do so knowing Americans are for the most part strongly in favor of change toward allowing gay men and lesbian women to serve openly alongside their fellow service members."

Lifting the ban is now supported by all of the subgroups listed in the Gallup survey: political moderates, 77 percent; liberals, 86 percent; Republicans, 58 percent; independents, 67 percent; Democrats, 82 percent; frequent churchgoers, 70 percent; people who seldom or never attend church, 76 percent. It also is favored by both men and women in every age group in every section of the country.

The poll surveyed 1,015 adults nationwide May 7-10 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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Comments

One of the easiest political decisions that Obama can make, but hasn't. Now I understand the idea of political preparations, especially with how poorly the Dems handled the Guantanmo issue, however this is a no brainer. If Gay Americans want to serve their country openly without being discriminated against this shouldn't even be an issue. Hell, Dick Cheney came out in favor of Civil Unions this past week , it's time Obama takes this very low political risk, and to hell with the Rightwing critics.

Posted by: Eisenhower | June 5, 2009 11:26 PM