An internal Pentagon study finds that most U.S. troops and their families don't care whether gays are allowed to serve openly and think the "don't ask, don't tell" policy could be dropped, the Associated Press reports, quoting officials familiar with its findings.

A 103-question survey on the issue was sent to about 400,000 active-duty and Reserve forces and another 150,000 to family members as part of a year-long study ordered in February by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The study asked, among other things, whether the troops had ever shared a room or the showers with gay peers, and how they might act if a gay servicemember lived with a same-sex partner on base, The Washington Post reports.

The Pentagon is reluctant to discuss the findings in full until after Dec. 1, when it rolls out its own plan for repeal of the policy.

Officials tell the AP that a working group is analyzing the results and drawing up a plan to overturn the policy should Congress repeal the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law.

(Posted by Doug Stanglin)