Gen. Pace: Gays Are Counter To God's Law

His retirement mere days away, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, felt emboldened to make a final parting shot at the gays during a defense appropriations hearing after Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he found Pace's previous comments on gays in the military to be be hurtful and demoralizing.

Pace responded, "Are there wonderful Americans who happen to be homosexual serving in the military? Yes. We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it. And that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

Anti-war protesters at the hearing yelled "bigot!" at Pace and jeered him before the room was cleared of spectators. After the meeting resumed, Pace added that he would "very willing and able and supportive" to changes to the DADT policy "to continue to allow the homosexual community to contribute to the nation without condoning what I believe to be activity - whether it to be heterosexual or homosexual - that in my upbringing is not right." Um, what the fuck does that mean? Gays can contribute, but can't be condoned? Huh? Isn't that where we are right now with DADT?

In March of this year, Pace declared that he found homosexuals innately "immoral", spawning a massive round of protests by progressive organizations. National Gay & Lesbian Task Force head Matt Foreman was arrested [photos] at a Times Square military recruiting station sit-in attended by many prominent gay activists, which made national news. Then Hillary Clinton earned the ire of gay activists when she took her sweet time in disavowing Pace's comments. In June, Pace announced his retirement, which some took as an indicator that Republicans considered him a liability in the upcoming election.

Pace Out As Chief Of Staff

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Friday that he was replacing General Peter "Gays Are Immoral" Pace as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. Gates had planned on naming Pace to another two-year term as Joint Chief, but changed his mind after consulting key members of Congress who are working on 2008 election damage control for the Republicans. CNN is reporting that Pace's departure may be linked to his anti-gay attitude.

Gates said, “I have decided that at this moment in our history, the nation, our men and women in uniform and General Pace himself would not be well served by a divisive ordeal in selecting the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Back in March, Pace had said, "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," resulting in the outrage of gays nationwide and the rejuvenation of ACT-UP who protested Pace's remarks in Times Square. Most Democratic candidates were quick to take the opportunity to issue remarks decrying Pace's commentary, although Hillary Clinton in particular was a bit slow on the draw.

Sharra Greer, director of law and policy for the Servicepersons Legal Defense Network, said, "Congressional leaders, in warning Secretary of Defense Gates that Pace's remarks would be an obstacle to his confirmation, have sent a clear message that anti-gay prejudice has no place in public policy debates."

According to reports, Pace's departure may also have to do with his support of Scooter Libby and the Iraq war, but however you dice it, General Homohater is gone, daddy, gone. And the week starts on a good note for the movement.
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