Criticism continues to mount over General Peter Pace’s recent comments calling homosexuality “immoral.” Here in New York, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the U.S. Army recruiting center in Times Square Thursday.

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: “We’re blocking entrance to the Armed Forces recruiting station here in Times Square to protest ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, to protest General Pace’s statements, to protest the fact that President Bush has not fired General Pace, and to protest the fact that the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination flubbed their responses and didn’t know how to respond to whether they agreed with General Pace or not. That’s why we’re here. ”

Foreman was later arrested along with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum. The two sat down on the street outside the recruiting center and ignored a police order to disperse. Also attending was former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey. McGreevey came out as gay when he admitted to having an extramarital affair while in office.

Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey: “’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is so intrinsically wrong. It’s asking people not to be honest, not to be open with their sexuality. And it’s somehow implying that gay soldiers, gay army, gay military is somehow worth less than straight members in the military. And so, it’s to confront the discrimination, the bigotry, the prejudice, that unfortunately is rife within the military, but also is all too rife throughout America.”

General Pace has come under intense criticism since the Chicago Tribune published comments he made in a recorded interview.

General Peter Pace: “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.”