Nov 30, 2007  |  By: JOSHUA LYNSEN  | COMMENTS     

Army in 1986 after becoming a colonel. He was then commissioned in the California National Guard and rose to brigadier general before retiring in 1996.

Kerr, who lives in Santa Rosa, Calif., has spoken in Washington and elsewhere, advocating a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“They shouldn’t have to hide who they are or fear losing their jobs,” he told the Blade. “They’re just as much in harm’s way as anybody else. They bleed the same and they die the same as any other solider.”

One of the first high-ranking military officers to publicly identify as gay, Kerr said he’s disappointed that the leading Republican presidential contenders support “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He noted that all the Democratic candidates have pledged to support open service for gays.

“So why are the Republicans still living in the 1950s, wrapped with homophobia and afraid to come into the 21st century?”

In their debate appearances this year, the leading Republican candidates have consistently supported “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Many of the leading contenders backed the law during a June 5 debate aired by CNN. At that time, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he did not believe “this would be the right time” to overturn the ban, and that the president should rely on the judgment of military commanders.

McCain said he likewise would rely on military leadership for guidance on the issue, but that it would be “a terrific mistake to even reopen the issue.”

Romney said that when he first heard of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, he “thought it sounded silly and didn’t think that it would be very effective,” but it “seems to be working” now.

During that debate, Huckabee, Hunter, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado also indicated their support for the law.
The positioning came three months after the nation’s top general called gay sex “immoral.”

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who was chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in March but retired in September, reiterated his support of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

California Rep. trong>Duncan Hunter thanked Kerr for his service but said gays are bad for unit cohesion. (Photo by Alex COMMENTS email       password Please review and follow Washington Blade’s current Comment and Discussion Policy. Guidelines updated as of August 22nd, 2009. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. eirinn 0 This hurts, of course. I know Duncan Hunter personally, although he does not know my standing as a member of the LGBT community. It has just never come up in conversation. He is one of the most gregarious, likeable people that I have ever met. It is a DAMN shame that he doesn't know a thing about gays serving in the military. I think he was Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee before the Democrats took over control of the House. I guess that's why he's the guy running point on this. He can retire with a full pension now, and I hope that he takes the opportunity to do so. Besides, the weather in San Diego is MUCH nicer than the weather in DC. Posted 11/30/07 - 4:47 PM