Only 27 percent of the 545 soldiers who responded to a new Zogby poll agree that gays should not be allowed to join the military.

26 percent oppose the ban on gays in the military and an additional 47 percent are neutral on the policy.

…snip…

C. Dixon Osburn of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, pushing to end the ban, called the poll, commissioned by the Michael D. Palm Center, “one more nail in the coffin of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the 1993 compromise that allowed gay men and lesbians to serve, but not if they were in any way open about their sexuality.

Almost a quarter of those surveyed said that they were aware of someone lesbian or gay in their units.

You can find Maria on MySpace here and read her current call for essays on femme identity here. Pick up Queer Shorts, her new anthology, at MergePress.com.