March 13, 2007
Pace: Gays Still Immoral
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace won't apologize for remarks in which he said homosexual acts were "immoral," AP reports. Aides, speaking on anonymity, told AP that "the general was expressing his personal opinion and had no intention of apologizing."
Massachusetts Democrat Martin Meehan, who today will again introduce a bill to the House repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibiting known homosexuals from service, was critical of Pace's comments to the Chicago Tribune's staff, which the paper published today.
"General Pace's statements aren't in line with either the majority of the public or the military," said Meehan, who vowed to overturn the policy last November if the Democrats took control of Congress. "He needs to recognize that support for overturning [the policy] is strong and growing' and that the military is 'turning away good troops to enforce a costly policy of discrimination,'" AP reported.
Meehan may be right; since the situation in Iraq began spiralling out of control, more lawmakers and military officers have begun rethinking the ban, enacted as a compromise by former President Clinton. The ouster of hundreds of "mission critical" personnel, along with numerous gay Arabic linguists since 9/11, has also given "Don't Ask" backers pause.
Gen. (Ret.) John Shalikashvili, who was Clinton's Joint Chiefs chair when "Don't Ask" was enacted, very publicly announced his change of heart on the matter in a New York Times op-ed (subscription) earlier this year. Another former chair, Colin Powell, has indicated he would not object if the military decided to reverse the policy on its own.
Recent polling (subscription) indicates that a majority of the public believes gays should be allowed to serve. A survey (subscription) conducted late last year of military personnel, however, showed significantly stronger resistance.
Three Republicans have signed on to the bill, including Florida's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, an outspoken opponent of "Don't Ask," USA Today reports. Hearings could be set for as early as April.
