FRC Criticizes Certification to Repeal Military Law on Homosexuality

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) today criticized the Obama administration's decision to now "certify" the repeal of the 1993 statute barring open homosexuality in the military (usually referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell").

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A bill passed late last year by the Democratic lame duck Congress provided for the 1993 law to be repealed, and homosexuals to be permitted to serve openly in the military, beginning sixty days after the President, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certified that the change could be made without threatening the "military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces."

FRC President Tony Perkins issued the following statement:

"America's military has barred homosexual conduct in the ranks ever since George Washington's Continental Army. President Obama, Secretary Panetta and Admiral Mullen have no basis – other than liberal political correctness – for 'certifying' that a reversal of this longstanding policy would do no harm.

"Even the Pentagon's biased report on the subject last year illustrated the dangers of using the military for social engineering. Retention would be harmed – 24 percent of service members said repeal would have a negative impact on their 'intentions to remain in the military,' a number six times higher than those who said it would have a positive effect. Recruiting would be harmed – repeal was four times more likely to have a negative than a positive effect on 'your willingness to recommend' a military career. Unit cohesion would be harmed – 62 percent foresaw at least some negative effects, and the report conceded that in open forums, 'the majority of views were against repeal.'

"The entire process by which the Obama administration has orchestrated repeal of this law was dishonest from the start. The recent revelation of a Defense Department Inspector General's report on unauthorized leaks to the media showed that the conclusions of the Pentagon's report on repeal had already been written before the troops were even asked their views.

"I urge Congress to put the brakes on 'repeal implementation' to investigate this scandal, and to reverse the ill-advised decision of last year's repudiated Democratic lame duck Congress."

SOURCE Family Research Council