Organizations Representing 40 Million People Urge Senators Not to Repeal Law Prohibiting Open Homosexuality in the Military

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2010
www.LC.org  and www.FreedomFederation.org
 Washington, DC - Organizations representing 40 million people have joined together to urge the U.S. Senators not to repeal Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C. (1993), which is usually mislabeled by the subsequent Executive policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).


In a letter to every U.S. Senator, the organizations state that an attempt to repeal the law that prohibits open homosexuality in the military during the lame duck session is illegitimate and untimely.

With the Pentagon's study having only been released on November 30, there has not been enough time to assess the results. In the recently released survey, only six percent stated they will positively recommend service to others after repeal (Question 80). A mere five percent believed the repeal would positively boost morale (Question 73). But 91 percent feel negative or mixed opinions regarding open homosexuality's impact on combat performance and its effect on units' performance as a whole (Questions 66 and 45).

Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, has said he was concerned that the repeal of the law would have a negative effect on unit cohesion and combat readiness of the Marine Corps. With so much at stake, it would be prudent for the Senate to hold off deliberations until the issue can be examined thoroughly.


The letter states:

"We are engaged in a war on many fronts. Our troops are in harm's way in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. This is no time to experiment with social engineering of the military." The letter goes on to state that "the consequences of repealing DADT will no doubt result in service members leaving the military or refusing to join. We cannot afford attrition or demoralization of our military in light of the wars we are facing in the Middle East, not to mention the looming threat of North Korea."

The letter warns of the consequences of repealing the law, some of which are known and some unknown. One consequence is the threat that such a repeal would have on military Chaplains.


Among the organizations signing the letter are the American Association of Christian Counselors, with over 50,000 active professional counselors, and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Coalition, the nation's largest evangelical Hispanic organization.


The letter is posted at www.FreedomFederation.org.