“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Misconstrued by Media

Media articles and reports continue to highlight the common misunderstanding about the policies, rules, and perspectives about homosexuality in the military.

For example, in discussing the history of homosexual policy in the military, an Associated Press report recently said

In the end, Congress agreed to let gays serve only if their sexual orientation remained secret.

While it is a common belief, the statement is flatly wrong.

The law Congress passed banned homosexuals from military service without qualification.  The “secret” part, more commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” was the Read more

DoD’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Report to be Publicized

The Department of Defense’s report on how to implement the proposed repeal of the law banning homosexuals from military service will reportedly be “released in full” next week, on November 30th — one day prior to the original date for which the report was supposed to be delivered to the Secretary of Defense.

The fact that the military’s entire emphasis has been how to react Read more

Civilian Dan Choi Protests in Uniform, Again

According to news reports, former Army Lt Dan Choi (once again) chained himself to the White House perimeter fence, resulting in arrest by the park police.  Rather than walking away in cuffs, he apparently chose to “go limp.”  Last time Choi did the same thing he was actually still an officer in the Army.

Choi was discharged last summer under DADT, and he recently tried to re-enlist during the 8-day injunction of the law banning homosexuals from serving in the military.

The next time Choi tries to sign up with the military, it should show him the door, regardless of the status of DADT.  He apparently lacks the strength of character to Read more

FRC Criticizes Soon-to-be-Released DADT Survey

A few months after advocates for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” criticized the Defense Department’s survey as biased against homosexuals, the Family Research Council has also openly criticized the same survey from the opposite side of the issue.

One of the FRC’s main criticisms is that the Department of Defense never asked members or their families (the two survey groups) if DADT should be repealed.  From the beginning, military leadership has emphasized the survey presumed it would be.

Recently, news reports “leaked” the “results” that the survey

found that most U.S. troops and their families don’t care whether gays are allowed to serve openly and think the policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell” could be done away with…

As the FRC report notes, the surveys asked no such questions.  However, it is possible to arrive at that conclusion by, as the FRC says, “manipulating” Read more

DADT Case Goes to Supreme Court

The Log Cabin Republicans have asked the US Supreme Court to reinstate Judge Virginia Phillips’ injunction prohibiting the US military from enforcing its ban on open homosexual service.  The military has said DADT will continue to be enforced during appeal.

In perhaps the supremest of ironies, the request lands on the desk of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.  Some have speculated that DADT would be 4-4 at the court, with Kennedy being the deciding vote.

The filing demonstrates a self-righteous and self-centered Read more

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: The Military Christian’s Perspective

The ongoing public debate over homosexuality and the US military (most often referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) presents a unique conflict for Christians in the military.  There are those who believe homosexuality is morally wrong and must be prohibited at every possibility, and there are those who believe people have the freedom to do as they please in their private lives.  This situation has implications from both the Christian perspective and the military perspective (in isolation), though they must be integrated to form the military Christian’s perspective.  Each of these three is addressed individually below.

The Christian Perspective

The Christian faith considers homosexuality a sin, just as theft, adultery, murder, and lust are sins.  Still, Christianity does not condemn the person who expresses a homosexual preference.  In addition, while many people in this world are tempted to sin (as was Jesus during his incarnation), the temptation to participate in sinful conduct is not itself wrong.  Finally, man is a fallen creation and has a sinful nature; thus, succumbing to temptation and sinning are a common experience of many on this earth — even the stereotypically staunchest Christians.

For a Christian, it is disheartening to see the culture, government, and now military move to end opposition to immoral behavior.  This is a dramatic indicator of the direction of cultural morality in the United States:  Few other issues have so rapidly moved from Read more

Survey: Military Majority Backs DADT Repeal, Chaplains Protest

Despite General Conway’s prior anecdotal evidence, several news outlets have reported on “leaked” details of the Department of Defense’s study on the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”  Reportedly, “a majority…would not object” to the service of open homosexuals.

The reports also indicated “some…but not a majority — objected strongly” and “said they would quit the military if the policy changed.”

Notably, whether or not personnel “objected” was not supposed to be the intent of the DoD study.  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates repeatedly said the study was to determine how best to implement repeal, not determine whether to repeal.

Meanwhile, the previously reported response of retired Chaplains was Read more

Appeals Court Stays DADT Injunction

After the issuing judge denied a stay, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the government’s plea for an emergency stay of her injunction against enforcing the current military policy/US law on homosexuals in military service.  The temporary stay can be challenged by the Plaintiff Log Cabin Republicans on Monday.

The short-term stay added more confusion to the military’s current policy, which the Department of Justice said was one of the reasons it sought the stay to begin with.

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