I believe in the strongest possible terms that the Department must, prior to any legislative action, be allowed the opportunity to conduct a thorough, objective, and systematic assessment of the impact of such a policy change; develop an attentive comprehensive implementation plan, and provide the President and the Congress with the results of this effort in order to ensure that this step is taken in the most informed and effective manner. A critical element of this effort is the need to systematically engage our forces, their families, and the broader military community throughout this process. Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights, and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully.
- letter from Secretary of Defence Robert Gates to the House Armed Services Committee
Their families?
In an effort to get around the interview catch-22, the Defense Department authorized the hiring this week of an outside contractor to confidentially gather the views of troops and their families, several Pentagon officials privy to the deliberations said.
The contractor, Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, will gather information from 350,000 troops and their families, including from homosexual service members. The company will use that data to assess the possible impact of a change in policy on military effectiveness and identify possible changes needed in military recruiting, housing, spousal benefits, and other areas, according to the officials.
- The Boston Globe
There it is again! "Their families."
Can somebody - anybody - please explain to me why it's so critically important to gather information about how servicemembers' families feel about their spouse or parent serving with out gay people? What possible relevant questions could be asked? Of what value could the information conceivably be?
I can think of one vaguely plausible explanation - that the "family" element of the survey would be designed to get information about what partner recognition, support, and benefits would be needed. Except that the partners of gay servicemembers are not recognized as family! "Family" means the spouses and kids of straight servicemembers. So what in the world do the gays have to do with them?
The other explanations that cross my mind are more sinister. Are they trying to water down the number of gay respondents by padding the total numbers with straight spouses? Are they trying to elicit homophobic concerns about gay people in family housing?
I've searched far and wide across the Internet and I can't find anybody, anywhere addressing this issue. So please, engage in the comments. Play Devil's Advocate for a second. Tell me why Mrs. Joe's opinion on the sexuality of G.I. Joe's coworkers matters to the Pentagon.