Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 15:17:16 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAAD SADDENED BY DEATH OF PERRY WATKINS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark F. Johnson News Media Director (212) 807-1700 GLAAD SADDENED BY DEATH OF PERRY WATKINS NEW YORK, NY--March 20, 1996--Perry J. Watkins, 48, the first openly gay man to challenge the ban against gays in the military, died of AIDS complications on Sunday March 17 at his home in Tacoma, Washington. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is saddened by his death. GLAAD assisted in the production of "Sis: The Perry Watkins Story," a 1994 documentary that was made about his military career. The title refers to Watkins' frequent female impersonations on army bases for much of his military career. Watkins, a Missouri native, was drafted into the US Army in 1968, during the height of the Vietnam war. At that time, he proclaimed his homosexuality, but was nevertheless admitted into military service. In 1982, he was discharged under the provisions that ban homosexuals from serving in the Armed Forces. Watkins fought the discharge for several years and finally won reinstatement after nine years of a protracted court battle when the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the Army's appeal case. Sgt. Watkins later retired with an Honorable Discharge. He has been the only openly gay person to retire with full honors from the military. "Watkins was an example of how honesty and perseverance can make a difference," said Mark F. Johnson, GLAAD News Media Director. "He always thought that if most of the gay men and lesbians in the military were honest about their sexuality the government couldn't afford to kick them out because there were so many," Johnson added. Watkins, who had begun a busy public speaking career before his death, often called the military's gay-directed policy of "don't ask, don't tell," "absurd," according to Johnson. Watkins spoke about gays in the military to several Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) groups and on many college campuses. He was also prominently featured in writer Randy Shilts' book Conduct Unbecoming , a work about the military's treatment of homosexuals. The script for a feature film, tentatively called Sovereign Immunity , and based on the life of Perry Watkins has been optioned by a production company in Hollywood. According to a scriptwriter, talks are underway with a popular film star to play the role of Watkins. Internment plans call for a small private ceremony for the Watkins family, near his home in Tacoma, Washington. # ****************************************************************************** Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org VISIT THE GLAAD WEB SITE AT http://www.glaad.org! The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. **************************************************************************** **