ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department has acknowledged that it made a mistake when it classified homosexuality as a mental disorder, a Defense Department spokesman said.

“Homosexuality should not have been characterized as a mental disorder in an appendix of a procedural instruction. A clarification will be issued over the next few days,” Lt. Col. Jeremy Martin said in a Tuesday e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

The about-face comes after a review of the policy that followed criticism from lawmakers and medical professionals earlier this month.

Martin downplayed the significance of the Defense Department’s now defunct stance on homosexuality.

“Notwithstanding its inclusion, we find no practical impact since that appendix simply listed factors that do not constitute a physical disability, and homosexuality of course does not,” he said.

Migrated