---
title: "Support Allowing Gays to Serve Openly in the Military"
description: "By more than a two-to-one margin, the public favors allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military."
date: "2010-11-29"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/11/29/support-allowing-gays-to-serve-openly-in-the-military/"
---

# Support Allowing Gays to Serve Openly in the Military

By more than a two-to-one margin (58% vs. 27%), the public favors allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces. A majority also supported allowing gays to serve openly in 1994, but by a smaller 52%-to-45% margin. More than two-thirds of Democrats (70%) and 62% of independents support allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Republicans are divided on the issue (40% favor, 44% oppose), bur far more conservative Republicans (52%) oppose than favor (28%) allowing gays to serve openly. Young adults (68% favor) are more supportive of gays serving openly in the military than are older adults, but adults ages 65 and older still are supportive by a 44%-to-28% margin. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1812/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-public-supports-gays-serve-openly-in-military)