Poll: US Prefers “Gays And Lesbians” To “Homosexuals” In The Military

by Colby Hall | 4:46 pm, February 11th, 2010

» 7 comments

A new poll by CBS News and the New York Times reports that the wording of the polling question has a lot to do with how Americans support the somewhat controversial issue. When asked if how one feels about “gays in the military” 51% answered “strongly favor.” When asked about “homosexuals in the military,” only 34% answered “strongly favor.” Oh America. What are we going to do with you?

According to the poll:

In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing “homosexuals” to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it.

But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it.

don't ask don't tell, Gay, Homosexuals, military, Poll

writer

They asked the Village People, but only the guy dressed as a sailor would answer.
rmbltmbl

Maybe since it is obvious the objective of this poll was wording.. they could have placed gay men and lesbians separately in questioning. And was there a follow-up to why there is this discrepancy? or was it just to show this? This also does not address don’t ask, don’t tell in the question.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jean-Ryan/729995296 Jean Ryan

Its not surprising that Americans of a certain age would fear the connotations of the word “homosexual.” Have you seen the horrific PSAs they were force fed in school? The word homosexual was associated with predators, pedophiles and the criminally insane. I think that a good portion of the opposition is being reactionary simply based on that word alone.
elizadavid

Being gay isn’t always easy! Even in the U.S. we still have difficult times. Getting people to accept who you are, isn’t easy. Being different in a society that is afraid of “difference” isn’t cool. My point is, gay people in Russia will have to fight to be recognized and accepted. If it has taken America this long to start allowing same-sex marriages and giving us the same rights and benefits as everyone else, then imagine how long it will take Russia and Europe to do the same!

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Azarkhan

I am an American of a certain age, and I have no problem with homosexual men in the military. There is a long history of homosexuals in combat. The earliest account I know of is the Theban Sacred Band, a company of homosexual lovers, which in turn was destroyed by Alexander the Great along with his lover Hephaestion. Many Romans thought Julius Caesar had male lovers.

Frederick the Great of Prussia was certainly gay, as was Ernst Rohm, a decorated WWI soldier who later led Hitler’s stormtroopers. And then there is the recent amusing story of Afghans who engage in homosexual practices but don’t consider themselves homosexual. I doubt that any Russian or American soldier who fought against them questions their military prowess.

I would just caution those who criticize American attitudes with an anecdote. Several years ago I was friends with a Somali woman who insisted that there were no gays in Somalia.
“What do mean there are no gays in Somalia?, I said. “There are gays in every society.”
“Not in Somalia”, she said, “We stone them.”
Nachi

Would Murcuhns know the difference???
bundesheer

Russia yes. Europe no. Europe and New Zealand are generally ahead of America in civil rights. Slavery/Women’s rights/gay rights. Remember most of those countries have gays openly in the military.