A new Quinnipiac poll reveals that most Americans feel that gays should be able to serve openly in the military:
Homosexuals should be able to openly serve in the U.S. military, American voters say 57 – 36 percent. Voters also say 66 – 31 percent the current policy of not allowing openly gay men and women to serve is discrimination, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
But by a 54 – 38 percent margin, American voters say gays in the military should face restrictions on exhibiting their sexual orientation on the job, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.
Voters from military households with an active or reserve member or a veteran in their family split 48 – 47 percent on ending "don't ask; don't tell." Support for repeal is 72 – 23 percent among Democrats and 56 – 37 percent among independent voters. Republicans oppose repeal 53 – 40 percent. Men support repeal 51 – 44 percent; women support it 62 – 29 percent.
On other related questions, American voters say:
82 – 10 percent that the military should stop pursuing disciplinary action against gays who are outed against their will;
65 – 30 percent, including 57 – 38 percent among voters in military families, that ending "don't ask; don't tell" will not be divisive or hurt the ability to fight effectively;
50 – 43 percent that the Pentagon should not provide for domestic partners of gay personnel;
Split 45 – 46 percent on whether heterosexual personnel should be required to share quarters with gay personnel.
Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,617 registered voters nationwide during the period of February 2 to February 8, with a margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points.
Full poll results here.
