Statement to:    President Barack H. Obama and Members of Congress

Subject:     Support for the 1993 Eligibility Law Regarding Homosexuals in the Military (Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C.)

Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress:

We appreciate the service of courageous men and women who volunteer to serve in the military and wish to support them in all matters of policy affecting their daily lives.  

For this reason, we are concerned about recent efforts to repeal or suspend enforcement of the 1993 Eligibility Law regarding homosexuals in the military, Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C., which is frequently referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”   

The 1993 law, which states that homosexuals are not eligible for military service, was passed with bipartisan majorities in both houses.  Congress passed the law to protect good order, discipline, and morale in the unique environment of the military.  Federal courts have upheld the law as constitutional several times, and it enjoys strong support among uniformed personnel.  

More than 1,150 distinguished retired military leaders have expressed thoughtful concerns about the heavy burdens that repeal of the 1993 law would place on men and women who volunteer to serve.  We agree that imposition of these burdens on our men and women in uniform would undermine recruiting, retention, and overall readiness, and have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service.  Such consequences eventually could break the All-Volunteer Force.  
 
As a matter of national security, we urge you to support the 1993 law regarding homosexuals in the military (Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C.), and to oppose any legislative, judicial, or administrative effort to repeal or invalidate the law.

Very respectfully,


The Undersigned


(Partial List -Titles are for identification only.)

Dr. Ted Baehr, Founder & Publisher, MovieGuide
Col. H.C. “Barney” Barnum, USMC (Ret.) – Medal of Honor Recipient
Gary L. Bauer, President, American Values
Morton C. Blackwell, President, Leadership Institute
L. Brent Bozell, III, President, Media Research Center
Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, USA (Ret.) – Medal of Honor Recipient
Allan Carlson, President, Howard Center
Christine Carmouche, Chairman, Grasstops USA
James Daly, President, Focus on the Family
Tom DeLay, former Majority Leader, U. S. House of Representatives
James C.  Dobson, Ph.D., Founder and former President, Focus on the Family
Frank Gaffney, President, the Center for Security Policy
Dr. William J. Gregor, Colonel, USA (Ret.)
Colin A. Hanna, President, Let Freedom Ring
Donald Irvine, President, Accuracy in Media
Bishop E. W. Jackson, Sr., President, S.T.A.N.D. America
David Keene, President, American Conservative Union
Thomas P. Kilgannon, President, Freedom Alliance
Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director, Traditional Values Coalition
Herbert London, President, Hudson Institute
Kristian M. Mineau, Massachusetts Family Institute
Preston Noell, President, Tradition, Family, and Property, Inc.
Dr. Mackubin Owens, U.S. Naval War College
Star Parker, Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
The Hon. Joseph Petrone, Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN in Europe
Howard J. Phillips, President, Conservative Caucus Foundation
Janet Porter, Faith2Action
Alfred Regnery, Publisher, American Spectator
Rick Scarborough, President, Vision America
Phyllis Schlafly, President, Eagle Forum
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Founder, Traditonal Values Coalition
Mathew Staver, President, Liberty Counsel
Richard Thompson, President, Thomas More Law Center
Wendy Wright, President, Concerned Women for America
Robert Zweiman, President, Jewish War Veterans of America



A similar statement has been personally signed by 1,167 retired Flag & General Officers for the Military.  Personal signatures were received from two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, several Service Chiefs, a number of combatant command, theater, and other major U.S. and allied force commanders, together with hundreds of retired flag and general officers who have led the men and women of our armed services at every echelon, in both peace and war, past and present.  Their names are posted here.


The Military Culture Coalition is a project of the Center for Military Readiness, an independent public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues.  More information is available at www.cmrlink.org.