The U.S. Army is moving to discharge a decorated combat pilot who was concerned and intervened when two lesbian officers were showing excessive affection at a military ball.
Lt. Col. Christopher Downey was attempting to prevent a soldier from filming the lesbian couple, who was kissing and disrobing on the dance floor during the April 2012 event, as Downey was concerned the photos would end up on social media sites. The couple was violating Army regulations regarding public displays of affection.
Yet, Downey was ultimately administratively convicted of assaulting the camera-wielding soldier and of violating the regulation that ended the ban on gays openly serving in the military.
“Tragically, here we see a decorated military officer being targeted for upholding military regulations, just because those violating them were a lesbian couple,” said American Family Association President Tim Wildmon. “This is yet another example of how militant homosexual activists don’t want simply the same treatment of homosexuals but special treatment. Rather than viewing this situation as an attempt by Lt. Col. Downey to uphold Army regulations, the military is caving to the radical homosexual lobby by penalizing Downey.
“The only proper course is for the Army to fully reinstate this decorated officer who has bravely served his country and for his career not to be marred by this incident.”
Downey approached the couple after another officer complained that their excessive affection violated Army rules about excessive public affection. One party of the lesbian couple, who later married then divorced her partner, said Downey showed discrimination against them.
In 2013, a three-officer “show cause” board in the Army ruled unanimously that the evidence demonstrated that Downey did not violate Army rules, yet the Army is still pursuing forced-discharge proceedings.
Downey’s lawyer, Richard Thompson who heads the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor Mich., recently announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the Army in U.S. District Court. The suit asks a federal judge to overturn the convictions and for Downey to be reinstated to the promotion list and to the roster for attending the Army War College.
As a helicopter pilot and brigade commander, Downey served three tours of combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received several medals of commendation, including one for flying his helo deep into enemy territory to engage jihadists. His action was credited with saving the lives of numerous Americans on the ground.
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