FRC Criticizes Pentagon's CRWG Report on Open Homosexuality in the Military; Urges Extensive Hearings on Flawed Report

No Level of Risk Should be Acceptable Merely to Advance a Liberal Social Agenda says FRC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) today renewed its criticism of the process which led to the release today of a report by the Pentagon's Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) on the issue of open homosexuality in the military.

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Following President Obama's call in his State of the Union address for repeal of the 1993 law barring open homosexuality in the military (usually referred to as "Don't Ask Don't Tell") Secretary of Defense Robert Gates formed the CRWG to explore how – not whether – to implement a repeal of the current law.

Marine Corps veteran and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins issued the following statement:

"Congress should hold extensive hearings on this topic, on both the findings and methodological weaknesses of this report, before taking any action to overturn current law. No level of risk should be acceptable merely to advance a radical social agenda.

"Sadly, today's report, and the ten months of work by the Comprehensive Review Working Group, may be of little value to Congress, because they failed to address the central question – whether overturning the current law would enhance our nation's ability to fight and win wars. By beginning with the premise that the law would be overturned, and exploring only how to implement such a change, the conclusion that such a change would be feasible was foreordained.

"The same concern applies to the surveys conducted of servicemembers and their spouses. Media reports to the effect that a majority of servicemembers 'would not have a problem' with homosexuals in the military overlook the fact that the surveys did not ask whether respondents support repeal of the current law. If most servicemembers say that under a different policy, they would continue to attempt to do their job in a professional manner, that is only what we would expect. This does not mean that a new policy would not undermine the overall effectiveness of the force. And if even a small percentage of our armed forces would choose not to re-enlist, or part of the public would choose not to serve in the first place, the impact on the military would be catastrophic."

A news conference will be held at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Family Research Council's headquarters at 801 G Street, NW to discuss the Pentagon's report and the upcoming debate in the U.S. Senate.

SOURCE Family Research Council