First, are you are asking me to take the opinion of a study from a biased source (I researched the "PALM Center", and it is anything but non-political/non-biased), with biased information (yes, I took the time to go through the information and sources) and take that as fact OVER my own experiences? And I should take this from a person who has never signed a blank check payable of their life to the service of their country?
Second, I am not talking about the armed forces as a whole. I never did. Which shows me that you never even understood my original statement.
Third, with that out of the way, let me go over this "study":
1. My original statement was primarily to combat arms. Their interviewed set of service members represents only ~0.0027% of US armed forces personnel. The number of combat arms personnel represented is ~0.0000009% of US armed forces. They are generalizing based on a very very small number of personnel.
2. Combat arms, which I am speaking primarily of, is the single most affected set of service members. All other parts of the military have little to no effect by gay service members.
3. The study several times mentions that most of the push back against the DADT repeal came from those serving in combat arms. They still chose not to focus their study where the majority of push back came from. An honest researcher would have focused on the area of concern.
4. While they 'can find no evidence' of a formal or informal 'gag order' preventing personnel from publicly expressing negative views regarding the DADT repeal, it does in fact exist. I see it happen and I have had to deal with it myself, not just on the DADT issue, but on racial and gender issues as well.
5. Once again, you did not take the time to understand my statement. I personally know several gay combat arms service members, and I have no problems with them because they keep it to themselves and conduct themselves as expected of them. As I stated, I only have a problem when they are open about it and act gay or try to use it to gain special privileges.
6. In the future, if you wish to be a credible side of an argument, first gain credible first hand experience in the subject matter.
In conclusion, if you are a member of combat arms and have different experiences than myself, my brethren, and all others in my profession whom I have spoken to about this privately; then and only then will I be willing to entertain your thoughts.