Stop Senate from Overturning Homosexuals in Military Law

By Richard D. Land, Christian Post Executive Editor Thursday, December 02, 2010

The push to allow open homosexuals into the armed forces is back in full gear.

The Pentagon just released its much-anticipated review on the impact of admitting open homosexuals into the military. With the 256-page report in hand, proponents of open homosexuals in the military are doing everything in their power to send the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy to the dustbin of history before the end of the year. Their next step in the rush toward repeal is a set of hearings Thursday and Friday in the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senators need to hear now that any attempt to overturn the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy should be rejected.

For weeks, the media have been conflating figures with leaked portions of the report, trying to demonstrate there is little objection by troops to repeal. Astonishingly, the survey does not even ask service members whether they support repeal. It simply focuses on how to implement repeal. Meanwhile, a survey commissioned and just released jointly by the Center for Security Policy and the Family Research Council shows that 63 percent of active duty and retired military families oppose allowing open homosexuals in the military ranks. This should give every elected official pause.

We remain convinced that repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is not in the nation's best interest. Overturning the current policy would strain our forces, weaken troop morale, and propel countless chaplains to leave the services. Using our all-volunteer military to advance radical social policy is an affront to the greatness of our armed services.

Senators need to be asked to engage in vigorous questioning of the witnesses in the hearings beginning today to help bring out the facts of the danger posed to our national security by repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Dr. Richard Land is president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention's official entity assigned to address social, moral, and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families and their faith.