San Diego’s Log Cabin Republicans chapter is collaborating with the Liberty Education Forum (LEF) to assist with a grassroots education initiative regarding the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy.

At the San Diego Log Cabin meeting on Oct. 24, Chapter President Garrick Wilhelm said LEF’s focus is changing the public’s opinion on allowing gays, lesbians and bisexuals to serve openly in the military.

“What they want to do is find out what can we do more [of] to dialogue with America about the issue and what changes their minds – what sways them,” he said. “From the surveys and polls, focus groups … the number-one thing that swayed them is whether or not someone chose to be gay or not.”

LEF polling indicates that if individuals believe sexual orientation is rooted in genetics and is therefore not a choice, they are more likely to support open service in the military. If individuals believe sexual orientation is a choice, they are less likely to support open service and stand by the DADT policy.

The non-partisan educational and research think-tank based in Washington, D.C., aims to educate people about the importance of achieving freedom and fairness for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation. They conduct research and educate the public on GLBT issues.

LEF has published several white papers that tackle a variety of topics from hate crimes, tax reform and blood donation discrimination against gay men to their most recent paper that outlines the origin of sexual orientation.

A white paper, “The Only Question That Matters: Do People Choose Their Sexual Orientation?” addresses the biological aspect of sexual orientation and aims to educate the public about the science behind sexual orientation. Published in July and authored by Chandler Burr, the white paper compares the human handedness trait to human sexuality and finds similarities between the two.

“It turns out that the trait profile for human handedness is astonishingly similar to a profile clinicians and geneticists have assembled of another human trait – sexual orientation,” Burr writes.

Clinical research shows that homosexuality is heritable, like left-handedness, Burr wrote, adding that neither trait correlates with any environmental factors. He said all twin studies conducted so far indicate a biological component to sexual orientation, and demonstrate that twins share the trait of homosexuality more often than they do left-handedness.

Wilhelm said LEF is also seeking two individuals from each Log Cabin Republican chapter to take part in a public opinion network that would involve sending letters to the editor, writing opinion articles, and listening and calling in to talk radio programs in order to discuss gay and lesbian issues related to public policy from a gay conservative perspective.

“For example, when Congress takes up the anti-[same-sex marriage] constitutional amendment in 2006, it would be important to present conservative arguments against the amendments, which aren’t often represented because most people that are talking about gay and lesbian issues come from a liberal background or a liberal viewpoint,” he said. “With this public opinion network, we’ll be able to come from a conservative viewpoint and share additional reasons why an anti-family constitutional amendment is not Republican.”

The San Diego Log Cabin Republicans have also developed a grassroots education plan specifically targeting DADT. Wilhelm said members are looking to form a speakers bureau made up of mostly veterans, but not limited to them, to make presentations to various organizations around the community, with the goal of sharing their viewpoints on DADT.

“It’s an issue that’s more conservative. … So it’s an issue of importance to many Republicans and we have a conservative standpoint to come from that they can identify with – why gay and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military.” Wilhelm said.