Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will retire when his term ends in September. Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, who backs "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," will be nominated to replace him.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday the congressional confirmation needed before Pace could serve another term could have become "a very contentious process," dwelling "on the past, rather than the future."
Steve Ralls, a spokesman for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization that seeks to allow open military service for gays, said the "homophobic remarks" Pace made in March might have influenced the decision.
"Gen. Pace's remarks are still fresh in the memory of many of our troops," he said, "and no doubt still fresh in the memory of many senators, too."
Pace, who has long supported "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," reiterated his stance during an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," he said. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way."
Pace later acknowledged that he intertwined his personal and professional stances when he discussed the policy, but did not apologize.
"It is our hope that the next nominee for chairman will be respectful and value the service of every member of the military, including the over 60,000 GLBT troops currently on active duty," said Brad Luna, spokesperson for Human Rights Campaign.
Open to change?
Mullen, who will be recommended to succeed Pace, said April 3 at the Brookings Institution in Washington that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has "served us very well."
But he also said that he would be open to reconsidering the issue.
"If it's time to revisit that policy, the American people I believe - and we live in a country - the American people ought to raise that issue and we'll have the debate," he said according to a transcript.
"As a member of the Joint Chiefs and obviously the head of one of the services, I will contribute to that and give my best military advice based on what - the debate that's going on, and if it changes, it changes. I think that's the path right now."
Ralls said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network welcomes any opportunity for debate.
"Public opinion is soundly on the side of revisiting this law," he said. "Eight out of 10 Americans want to see it repealed. So we hope that Adm. Mullen will play a productive part of that public discussion."
By JOSHUA LYNSEN
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