Anti-Gay Paranoia or Just Good Advice?

The Department of Defense is administering a survey where they hope to get the input of 400,000 servicemembers when it comes to the issue of repealing ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’. Sounds like a good idea right? Out of those 400,000 there are bound to be more than a few gay ones right? Perhaps this is an anonymous chance for those currently serving to let their voices be heard on the issue. Perhaps not?

According to a report on Yahoo News, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is advising gay military members to not take the survey.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network said Thursday that troops could be accidentally exposed by answering the survey and that the Defense Department has not agreed to grant immunity should that happen.

However, the Pentagon is trying to assure servicemembers the survey is strictly confidential as it’s being administered by a third party not otherwise associated with the Pentagon.

According to the same report, Pentagon spokesperson Cynthia Smith stated:

“They [gay and lesbian service members] cannot be outed.”

Smith also said the questions included in the survey do not ask the respondent whether or not they are gay or lesbian, but rather about the participants overall military experience, their experience serving with those believed to be gay or lesbian and their overall thoughts on how repealing ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ may affect the overall functioning of the armed services.

However, SLDN has suspicions the information may leak. According to Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN’s director:

“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.”

So what are your thoughts, is it a ploy to ‘out’ soldiers or will the participants maintain anonymity? I suppose without a copy of the survey, it would difficult to know for sure.