Americans back US military’s ‘don’t ask’ repeal: Poll

WASHINGTON - A majority of 58 percent Americans support allowing gays to serve openly in the military, suggesting that they would favour repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, according to a new poll.

Of those surveyed earlier this month by the Pew Research Center, 27 percent however said they opposed such a policy change, Politico reports.

Support for repeal is reportedly strongest among women and young adults, with 63 percent of women and 68 percent of people aged 18 to 29 saying that they favoured allowing gays to serve openly.

In the Pew poll, which surveyed 1,255 adults, 40 percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans said they supported the repeal, while 70 percent of Democrats said they did. Among independents, 62 percent said they backed the end of the policy, the report said.

Republicans who said they agreed with the tea party were less likely to support gays being able to serve openly in the military, while 38 percent said they were open to it, and 48 percent said they were not, it added. (ANI)