A lot of LGBT bloggers, most notably Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend, are taking issue with this report by CNN's Chief Pentagon Correspondent, Barbara Starr. There is an exchange where some say Starr appears to be defending the survey, which full of slanted questions, that from what Starr reports, sound a lot like "You don't want to shower with a bunch of queers, do you?"
From what I can make of it, Starr is simply explaining the Pentagon's twisted rationale for this survey, not defending it. I think that sometimes our community likes to create an issue where none exists. The real issue here is not Barbara Starr, but the stupidity of the study and the bias in the questions. The video below was edited down for later airing, deleting the Q and A with Barbara Starr. Is CNN covering up or was it simply a case of editing for time? Is Barbara Starr showing a pro-Pentagon/anti-LGBT bias? What do you think?
In a new development, Aubry Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has released a statement advising gay, lesbian and bi service members not to take part in the survey due to privacy concerns.
SLDN released the following statement this morning:
"A number of service members have contacted SLDN to seek guidance on surveys concerning the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- the discriminatory law barring gay and lesbian service members from serving with integrity. At this time SLDN cannot recommend that lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members participate in any survey being administered by the Department of Defense, the Pentagon Working Group, or any third-party contractors. While the surveys are apparently designed to protect the individual's privacy, there is no guarantee of privacy and DOD has not agreed to provide immunity to service members whose privacy may be inadvertently violated or who inadvertently outs himself or herself. If a service member still wishes to participate, he or she should only do so in a manner that does not reveal sexual orientation."
If it smells like a rat...jeeeze...it must be a rattus !! Obama, if he practiced his sense of morality, would execute a stop loss order today. July 26, 1948: President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, which states, "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The order also establishes the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services. The Pres. is the CIC...hello. This survey(results of..) has the potential to be either a positive gain for us, or the foundation for magnification of hatred against us.
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