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Private Contractor to Interview Gay Troops for Pentagon


DON'T ASK DON'T TELL TROOPS ARMY DADT X390 (GETTY)  ADVOCATE.COM

In an effort to gather information on gay troops serving in the military without requiring that they come out, the Pentagon has hired an outside contractor to confidentially query gay service members and their families.

The review, part of the military's effort to phase out "don't ask, don't tell," is expected to cost $4.4 million. The contractor, Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, will gather information from 350,000 troops and their families, including gay service members.

If a gay military member were to come out during an interview with Pentagon officials, it would mean that disciplinary action would have to be brought against him or her.

Read the full story here.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Andrew
    Date posted: 5/23/2010 10:51:06 PM
    Hometown: Sacramento, CA

    Comment:

    Okay men, we're going to s*ck your c*ck and anyone that gets a h@rdon is like a total f@g! So, how do I get that job? Either kind. : )

  • Name: john in SF
    Date posted: 5/23/2010 6:29:38 AM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    I wish I could get this contract. Ok, Gentlemen, we are just collecting data here, now drop those drawers. We have a scientific way to determine if you are gay. Ok, so the test is bs, but then again, most of this stuff is anyway, so why not have a little fun?

  • Name: CountryBoy
    Date posted: 5/22/2010 7:07:45 PM
    Hometown: MO

    Comment:

    WHY are they spending MORE MILLIONS of our tax dollars taking a 'survery' of how the military feels about DADT??!! If they want to take 'surveys'; why don't they START with how the soldiers feel about fighting and dying in two Middle East wars!! Obama needs to stand up and be counted... He campaigned as a 'fierce advocate' for the LGBT community. For 18 months in office, he has accomplished NOTHING! If DADT repeal is not attached to the Defense Appropriation bill, now in Congress, we can forget repeal for at LEAST another year. God help the Democrats in November!!!!

  • Name: CJ
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 9:48:55 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    Interesting how someone blames the Republicans for this. Although they deserve much blame, to really get this accomplished (repeal of DADT) it will take our "fierce advocate" Obama to get behind the repeal. Democrats and Obama are wasting time. They have majorities in the House, Senate and also have the White House. Yet, they aren't even pretending to be LGBT advocates in many regards.

  • Name: Carol
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 9:26:49 PM
    Hometown: MO

    Comment:

    We could have saved ourselves 4.4 million dollars and just thrown out DADT. The people that had to have so much convincing should foot this bill. Why would our Armed Forces be any different than all the other Armed Forces in other countries that have done it. It would be interesting to know if they spent money investigating everyones opinions in those countries.

  • Name: Jack
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 8:14:20 PM
    Hometown: Ark

    Comment:

    If the Pentagon insists on a survey, there is only one question that should be asked of each service member, from PFC to Secretary: "Regardless of your personal beliefs and feelings, if Congress or the Commander-in-Chief ordered a repeal of DADT, would you comply". Period. End of debate.

  • Name: Brandon
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 7:42:19 PM
    Hometown: Baltimore

    Comment:

    Obama is doing just that dennis...

  • Name: dennis
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 6:21:11 PM
    Hometown: chicago

    Comment:

    if i were in the military as a career, why would i risk my career talking to a private contractor that i don't know? the USA needs a Harry Truman. now. before the elections.

  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 6:11:10 PM
    Hometown: WF

    Comment:

    The Republicans are spending millions of our tax dollars and weakening our military to stall repealing the unconstitutional DADT, identify the gay/lesbian soldiers still not thrown out, then after the November election when they control Congress, kill repeal and throw out every gay/lesbian soldier in the military. The Democrats are fools not to attach repeal to the military budget now.

  • Name: doug
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 6:03:04 PM
    Hometown: vb

    Comment:

    is anyone else thinking this is how the final purge is going to happen? 'Come in- tell us about your life....' and then they're up on charges! Or if they do fear coming forward for that reason- it's used as an excuse to stop repeal 'no one came forward- guess there aren't any...'



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