From owner-kenslist@QueerNet.ORG Fri Aug 4 13:06:29 1995 Received: from mail1.its.rpi.edu (root@mail1.its.rpi.edu [128.113.100.7]) by abacus.oxy.edu (8.6.10/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA26854 for ; Fri, 4 Aug 1995 13:06:20 -0700 Received: from queernet.queernet.org (queernet.queernet.org [140.174.78.68]) by mail1.its.rpi.edu (8.6.9/8.6.4) with SMTP id QAA07080 for ; Fri, 4 Aug 1995 16:06:08 -0400 Received: by queernet.queernet.org (Smail3.1.29.1 #5) id m0seSQM-000DGga; Fri, 4 Aug 95 12:28 PDT Sender: owner-kenslist@QueerNet.ORG Received: from ic.si.edu by queernet.queernet.org with smtp (Smail3.1.29.1 #5) id m0seSPu-000D2nC; Fri, 4 Aug 95 12:28 PDT Apparently-To: , Received: from SIWP01-Message_Server by ic.si.edu with Novell_GroupWise; Fri, 04 Aug 1995 15:58:58 -0400 Message-Id: X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 4.1 Date: Fri, 04 Aug 1995 15:54:22 -0400 From: Leonard Hirsch Subject: New Executive Order: Access to Classified Information Sender: owner-kenslist@QueerNet.ORG Precedence: bulk Content-Length: 4494 X-Lines: 88 Status: RO August 3, 1995 MEMORANDUM FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM: Marsha Scott, Deputy Assistant to the President for Political Affairs RE: New Executive Order--"Access to Classified Information." I am pleased and excited to report to you that tomorrow the President will announce the establishment of a new Executive Order which for the first time in history provides clear and unmistakable language that the government does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the granting of access to classified information. The Executive Order, entitled "Access to Classified Information", establishes a uniform, government-wide Federal personnel security program for all federal employees who are being considered for initial or continued access to classified government information. Until now, government employees were subject to a patchwork system of regulations which were, at best, unclear or ambiguous on the topic. With the President's new Order, which is effective immediately upon its publication in the Federal Register, it is mandated that: "The United States government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or sexual orientation in granting access to classified information." " ..No inference concerning the standards in this section may be raised solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of the employee." The language and tone of the Order, developed at the President's direction by the National Security Council at the White House, together with input from the Department of Justice and the Office of Management and Budget, is definite, precise and binding government-wide. It means that for the first time the government has clearly stated its policy on the subject--that no one will be discriminated against in access to classified material on the basis of sexual orientation. ====================================================== From: Leonard Hirsch, President, Federal GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Employees of the Federal Government) [LHIRSCH@SI.EDU] The Executive Order signed by President Clinton takes a very large step in removing the legal barriers to equal treatment in the Federal workforce. By explicitly including sexual orientation in the non-discrimination statement, he finally expurgates decades of legal harassment and discrimination. The Executive Order is the first step. Federal GLOBE and the many department and agency GLOBEs will work with the new Executive Security Panel and within the agencies to make certain that this Executive Order is properly implemented. For the first time, lesbians and gays can believe that they can be treated equally with heterosexuals in the process of being considered for and obtaining security clearances in the Federal government. The order gives us that possibility. But the process of eliminating homophobia, homohatred, and ignorance around lesbian and gay issues is long from done. Only with hard work, organizing, educating, and vigilant oversight will we make this possibility an actuality. Federal GLOBE will continue to work within the government to eliminate harassment and discrimination and make the workplace one that is accepting and welcoming of all Americans. Federal GLOBE salutes the President in taking this step. We thank Congressman Barney Frank, who played a pivotal role in the formation and enunciation of this policy. FBI Director Louis Freeh and OPM Director James King, among many others in the administration, worked hard to ensure that this Executive Order fully protected the needs of the country and the rights of the federal employees. Federal GLOBE also thanks the many others around the country who worked to make certain that the information upon which this policy was built was accurate, particularly NOGLSTP (National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals) who worked closely with the Government Accounting Office in developing the background information. This important step by the President is based on the hard and long-term work of many. It is a fitting addition to the accomplishments of Frank Kameny who lost his security clearance and job in 1957 and has led the fight for new and enlightened rules ever since. We look forward making certain that his dream of a discrimination-free workplace continues to be made a reality. *****************************************************************