I honestly have no problem with gay people serving in the military. Not even a little bit. I knew several people in my old unit that were gay, and I spent plenty of time around them. They were good people.

My opinion was not the prevailing opinion though...not even close to it. The people I knew were very discreet about it, not out of fear for their jobs, but more out of fear for their safety.

Do I know that repealing don't ask don't tell would create a situation where people who are openly gay were persecuted and mistreated? No, I guess I don't, but from my experience in the military I'd bet that it would be ugly for a while. In time things would probably calm down and some happy medium would be found....but I think there would be some major ugliness very early on in the process.

So while I don't really like the policy personally, I think it also encourages discretion, which for individuals that are often surrounded by a bunch of homophobes who are trained to fight and kill...discretion is probably a good thing.

Who knows...perhaps repealing the policy will help create a more understanding environment and the military will be better for it.