Gen. Pace Calls Homosexuality Immoral

WASHINGTON, DC -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, said Monday that the military should not condone homosexuality by allowing gay soldiers to serve openly because it is immoral.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the general compared homosexuality to adultery, which he said is also immoral, and said he did not believe the United States to be "well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way."

The general said he supports the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, in which gays are allowed in the military as long as they do not disclose their sexual orientation.

"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace said.

In a statement Tuesday, Pace said he should have focused more in the interview on the Defense Department policy about gays — and "less on my personal moral views."

He did not offer an apology, however, something that has been demanded by several gay rights groups.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) strongly condemns the remarks, demanding an immediate apology from the general, "General Pace’s comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces."

Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was implemented more than 10 years ago, over 10,000 service members have been discharged from the Armed Forces under the law.