LONDON (AP) -- Gay rights groups in Europe expressed disappointment
Tuesday with President Clinton's new policy on gays in the U.S.
military, saying it won't change anything.
   Many European countries allow homosexuals to serve openly in their
armed forces. The issue has not caused the same kind of heated and
divisive debate here as in the United States.
   Clinton's policy, announced Monday, directs the military to allow
homosexuals to serve as long as they remain silent about their
sexuality.
   "Honestly, I can't see any changes in the U.S. policy," said Bent
Hansen of the National Danish Organization for Gays and Lesbians.
   Clinton's problem "is that he has to struggle with conservative and
old-fashioned people, including some within his own party," Hansen
said.
   Danish military recruits are not asked about their sexual
orientation, although homosexuals can skip mandatory military service
if they fear harassment.
   Franco Grillani, president of Italy's national gay and lesbian
association, said Clinton's decision "will never allow homosexuals to
properly integrate" in the military. But he felt the public debate on
the issue helped create a more tolerant attitude toward homosexuals.
   In Sweden, gays are represented throughout the military, mirroring
their acceptance in society.
   "Since homosexuality is generally accepted here, gays are accepted
at all positions in the armed forces," said Bertil Ternert, spokesman
for the Swedish Defense Ministry.
   The Dutch armed forces openly allows gay soldiers and tries to make
them feel welcome through the government-funded Homosexuality and Armed
Forces Foundation, which holds monthly meetings with the country's
defense minister.
   Foundation secretary Joost Schaberg said he was "very disappointed
about the (American) decision because nothing has changed" in the
official attitude towards gays in the military.
   "If homosexuality is recognized (by the military), there should be
no restrictions applied to it," said Jan Witvoet, vice chairman of the
Dutch Union of Conscripted Soldiers.
   In Britain, the international news editor of the Gay Times newspaper
said Clinton's policy won't help anyone.
   "They haven't made a move towards equality between heterosexuals and
lesbians and gay persons because I'm sure that they don't look into
straight persons' behavior off the base," said Gillian Rodgerson.
   Britain forbids homosexuals from serving in the military. But it no
longer files criminal charges against those it discovers and discharges
them instead.
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   WHERE GAYS MAY SERVE:
   NATO members France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Norway,
the Netherlands and Denmark allow gays to serve, but discipline them if
their homosexuality enters the barracks.
   The same holds for Finland, Sweden and Israel.
   Denmark allows gays to marry, and gay military spouses receive the
same death and disability benefits as heterosexual ones.
   In Germany, gays are banned from holding leadership positions; each
year there are a handful of disciplinary actions against homosexual
officers.
   In Italy and Finland, gay draftees can seek exemption from one-year
mandatory military service.
   The Netherlands' military sponsors an education program to foster
tolerance and understanding of homosexuality.
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   WHERE GAYS MAY NOT:
   NATO members Britain, Greece and Turkey ban homosexuals in the
military, as do Russia, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.
In 1992, Britain dropped criminal penalties for homosexuality in the
military.