Key military leaders are expressing opposition to plans by the Obama administration to repeal the ban on open homosexuals serving in the U.S. armed services. Leaders
of branches of the armed forces testified before
Congressional committees that they support retention of the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway told senators, "The current policy works. My best military advice to this committee...would be to keep the law such as it is." Army Chief of Staff Gen George Casey testified before a U.S. House committee that he has "serious concerns" about the impact of a repeal, saying it could impact "readiness and military effectiveness." Air Force Chief of Staff General Norman
Schwartz told House members that now "is not the time to perturb the force, which is already stretched by demands in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Now even Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling for a delay in lifting restrictions on homosexuals in the military, arguing that such action should be held off until a year-long review is completed. Gates had previously supported Obama's proposal, which would eliminate current regulations that state that anyone who "demonstrates a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" is
prohibited from military service.
Under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy implemented during the Clinton administration, homosexuals are able to serve in the military provided they don't share their sexual
preference for homosexuality on their military
eligibility forms. The policy forbid military personnel from
questioning enlistees about potential homosexual behavior or inclinations. Yet military regulations still maintained that homosexuality is incompatible with military service.
President Obama's proposal to change the culture of America's armed forces has run into rough sledding in military circles. Both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have strongly opposed
the change. More than 1100 retired admirals and generals have objected to the change, saying that overturning the ban
would "undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents to lend theirs sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All
-Volunteer Force." Additional military authorities
have contended that the change would likely exclude the promotion of officers who do not
publicly affirm homosexual behavior, essentially ending any advancement in their military careers.
The Alliance Defense Fund recently sent a letter to President Obama citing concern over the impact of a policy change on the religious freedom of chaplains. "If the military is forced to promote homosexual behavior...there
will be open conflict between the virtues taught by chaplains and the moral message delivered by the military," says ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot.
"If the state favors the demands of homosexual activists over the First Amendment, it is only a matter of time before the military censors the religious expression of its chaplains and marginalizes denominations that teach what the Bible says about homosexual behavior. Forcing chaplains to deny the teachings of their faith in order to serve in the
Armed Forces is a grave threat to the spiritual health of Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen who depend on them."
In a sign of things to come, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins was disinvited to speak at a military
function
at Andrews Air Force Base. He was informed by the base chaplain that his
invitation to speak was being rescinded because his statements against repeal of the current policy were "incompatible with our role as military members who serve our Commander in Chief. "
Perkins, who is a Marine Corps veteran, planned to speak on the duty to serve God and our neighbors.
As the debate over military standards has escalated, many military experts have pointed out the difference between military and civilian life. Professor of Law William Woodruff describes it this way "The American military does not fight an armed enemy sworn to destroy our way of life by showing how enlightened and progressive our popular culture is...Anything, whether it is height, weight, IQ, character, physical fitness, medical condition, or any other condition that detracts from unit cohesion and combat effectiveness disqualifies an otherwise patriotic American from serving in the military. The military is not popular culture...Otherwise, it elevates the individual over the mission and that is the antithesis of military service."
Former General Colin Powell stated it well in 1993 when he told members of Congress: "It would be prejudicial to good order
and discipline to try to integrate gays and lesbians in the current military structure...Skin color is a benign, non-behavioral characteristic. 'Sexual orientation' is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics.
Comparison of the two is a convenient but invalid argument"
We encourage you to let your Congressional representatives know that you support retaining high moral
standards in the military service, and that you oppose the endorsement of the homosexual lifestyle in our armed forces. The Obama administration's
plan is a severe threat to our nation's national security, and even more so our nation's spiritual integrity.
You can contact Senator Kit Bond by using this link:
You can contact Senator Claire McCaskill by clicking this link:
You can contact your Congressman by visiting this link
