Paul Rosenberg points to polling demonstrating that language matters- support for "gay men and lesbians" serving in the military jumps dramatically compared to when the term "homosexuals" is used. This is something LGBT people and straight allies have known for a long time, but it is still commonly used, and it's not just offensive, but detrimental to our cause. I remember Sen. Sessions hitting the term "homosexual" with a nice long Southern drawl at the Armed Services hearings a few weeks ago. He gets the public reaction to it. Please stop using the term if you do, and correct others if you hear it.
Also, on who the policy affects, I do want to point out that even "gay men and lesbians" is inaccurate, since bisexual individuals have same-sex relationships and are still treated the same as gay men under the policy. Don't Ask, Don't Tell also seriously affects transgender individuals, as the Transgender American's Veteran's Association and the Palm Center rightly point out. This policy hurts a wide range of people, not just "gay men and lesbians".
What is also important about the polling is the number- 58%- which support "gay men and lesbians" serving openly in the military. Just 28% are opposed. 66% think the ban on serving openly is "discrimination". Polling has shown for a long time that the public opposes this policy, and this poll demonstrates that once again.
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