Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2010 /Christian Newswire/ -- Evangelical Christians are the group most likely to oppose repealing the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting homosexuals from serving openly in the military, according to a new survey.

The national survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, conducted Nov. 4-7 among 1,255 adults, finds continuing partisan and religious differences in opinions about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The survey reveals that, in addition to evangelicals, black Protestants are also less likely than the overall U.S. population to favor ending the existing policy, with a slim majority of 52 percent of such blacks supporting repeal.

According to Pew, 48 percent of white evangelicals said they oppose lifting "don't ask, don't tell" compared to 34 percent who said they approve. Among all Americans, 58 percent of the 1255 adults surveyed said they favor letting homosexuals serve openly in the military, while only 27 percent said they are opposed.

IRD Vice President Alan Wisdom commented:

"These survey results reveal that evangelicals are the only Christian group with a plurality that opposes allowing homosexuals to openly serve in the military. If they are going to remain true to their scriptural beliefs on sexuality, evangelicals must be willing to stand increasingly against the cultural trends.

"Indeed, if 'don't ask, don't tell' is repealed, there are likely to be serious problems for evangelicals and other traditional Christians serving in the military. Such a policy change would not move the military from a negative to a neutral position on homosexual practice. It would go further and enshrine as official U.S. military doctrine that it is 'discrimination' to disapprove of same-sex relations. Traditional Christians who hold that position would be pressed to 'get in line' with the new policy -- or get out of the service.

"The military has long had higher standards on sexual matters, banning adultery as well as homosexuality. But the military will inevitably end up reflecting the society that it is charged with defending. Our society increasingly condones homosexual and other non-marital relations, as reflected in this Pew Survey. This trend is not good for society, and it will not be good for the military. Evangelicals and other faithful Christians will have to be prepared to resist it, and to pay a price if necessary for their counter-cultural stand."