Politico obtained a copy of the survey the Pentagon has sent out to randomly selected military spouses to help the military, Sec. Gates writes in his introduction, “assess the impact of a change in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law and policy on family readiness and recruiting and retention.” It is thirteen pages long, and after some basic questions, presents queries like these:

Q: Do you have any family members, friends or acquaintances, including coworkers, whom you believe to be gay or lesbian?

A: Yes, one; Yes, more than one; No

Q: How important a factor would a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tel”l be to you in making decisions about your spouse’s future in the military?

A: Very important; Important;Neither important nor unimportant;Unimportant;Very unimportant; Don’t Know

Q: Would a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell affect your willingness to recommend military service to a family member or close friend?

A: Yes, I would be more likely to recommend military service to a family member or close friend; Yes, I would be less likely to recommend military service to a family member or close friend: No, it would not affect my willingness to recommend military service to a family member or close friend; Don’t Know

Gay and lesbian advocacy groups have declared the survey disrespectful and insulting. They are correct. The questions validate bias and prejudice by implying that objecting to working and living with gay Americans is a legitimate point of view worthy of consideration in the formulation of policy. Imagine how we would regard today an equivalent survey regarding African-Americans, if one had been sent out by the Truman Administration during World War II.  “Q: Would allowing Negroes in the armed services affect your willingness to recommend military service to a family member or close friend?” It would be seen as an appeal to bigotry, and an attempt to find a justification to continue current policy.

Why ask questions like this, if the decision has been made that eliminating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is just the right thing to do, as President Obama declared it was? This may just be one more indignity gay Americans will have to endure in their efforts to have the same rights as their fellow citizens, but still, the fact that such a survey could be sent out in 2010 is mind-boggling.  “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was always an unethical and awkward policy that required gay soldiers to misrepresent themselves while being part of a culture that is supposedly built on honor and the highest ethical standards. It was rooted in bigotry and the tolerance and justification of bigotry.

The time for surveys should have ended decades ago. President Obama and the Pentagon should stop stalling, and end this embarrassing policy now. In the process, they should also end the embarrassing survey.