"We expect President Bush to condemn these remarks out of respect for our men and women who are currently serving and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is immoral to send our servicemembers into battle without the proper equipment or plan. It is immoral to deny them proper medical care upon their return and it is immoral to revoke support for our troops based on this misguided policy reaffirmed by General Pace and the White House.

The current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy is not only immoral, but it creates a threat to our national security by dismissing qualified personnel for political reasons when they are desperately needed to combat the War on Terrorism. It was the wrong policy to enact in 1993, and it is the wrong policy to pursue today. That is why Congressional Democrats have introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act in an attempt to fully support our troops and defend the security of all Americans."

- Jo Wyrick, Executive Director

In comments reported today by the Chicago Tribune, General Peter Pace unfavorably compared homosexuality to adultery, saying he believed both were immoral. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way," Pace said. ""I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."

The paper noted that a 2005 government audit showed that more than 10,000 servicemembers have been dismissed under the policy. That number included nearly 60 Arabic linguists, a specialty that the military has admitted that they are in desperate need for.

Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) has recently introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that would revoke the current policy on gay personnel. The removal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy is supported by leading Democrats and is the official position of the Democratic Party as espoused in the 2004 platform of the Democratic National Convention.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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