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SANTA FE — Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson wants Congress to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy in which gay service members are required to keep their sexual orientation private.

Richardson's comments come days after the Pentagon's top general remarked that homosexual acts are immoral and said the military should not condone homosexuality by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has since apologized for the comments, saying he should have limited what he said to discussion of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and a former congressman, said Thursday he does not believe that homosexuality is immoral and Congress should repeal the military's policy.

"I voted against it when I served in Congress," Richardson said. "People should not be judged based on their sexual orientation. Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind."

Richardson said he supports civil unions and he pointed to legislation that he signed into in law that extends civil rights protections based on sexual orientation.

Richardson called Pace's remarks "unfortunate" and said the Bush administration should reject them.

Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama initially tried to sidestep the issue when asked about it this week, but both said Thursday they don't agree that homosexuality is immoral.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential hopeful, would not discuss whether he thought homosexuality was immoral, but he told the Associated Press that Pace was wrong to discuss the morality of homosexuality.

McCain did say he adamantly supports the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Fellow Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback has come out in support of Pace, saying the criticism of the military leader is "unfair and unfortunate."

"We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues," Brownback said.

"In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views."