From JULIE@DRYCAS.CLUB.CC.CMU.EDU Thu Jun 9 05:08:53 1994 Received: from indst.indstate.edu by vector.casti.com (NX5.67d/5.931230) id AA16065; Thu, 9 Jun 94 05:08:53 -0400 Received: from amber.indstate.edu by indst.indstate.edu (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with TCP; Thu, 09 Jun 94 04:09:51 EST Received: from AMBER/MERCURY by amber.indstate.edu (Mercury 1.11); Thu, 9 Jun 94 4:07:34 GMT-5 Received: from MERCURY by AMBER (Mercury 1.11); Thu, 9 Jun 94 4:07:01 GMT-5 Resent-From: "Thomas W. Holt Jr." Resent-To: QRD@vector.casti.com Resent-Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 04:06:59 EST Received: from MERCURY by AMBER (Mercury 1.11); Wed, 8 Jun 94 22:17:52 GMT-5 Received: from BROWNVM.brown.edu by amber.indstate.edu (Mercury 1.11); Wed, 8 Jun 94 22:17:44 GMT-5 Received: from BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU by BROWNVM.brown.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 8631; Wed, 08 Jun 94 22:36:19 EDT Received: from BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@BROWNVM) by BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 9505; Wed, 8 Jun 1994 22:36:17 -0400 Date: Wed, 8 Jun 1994 22:40:00 EDT Reply-To: Song Weaver Sender: Information Repository for News of Interest to GLB* Folk From: Song Weaver Subject: IS `DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL' WORKING? DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK X-To: glb-news@brownvm.brown.edu To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS X-Pmflags: 33554560 Message-Id: <244E6FF0229@amber.indstate.edu> Army Times 06-13-94 Issue IS `DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL' WORKING? DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK By Neff Hudson WASHINGTON - Depending on who's doing the telling, the Pentagon's policy on homosexuals is either an early success or an overnight failure. For Defense Department officials, the "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy appears to be working. As evidence, they contend that the number of discharges for homosexual conduct has declined steadily for the last three budget years. In 1993, 682 service members were discharged for homosexuality, compared with 708 the previous year and 949 in 1991, Pentagon statistics show. Officials say debate about gays in the military also appears to have died down in the field, where some soldiers, sailors and airmen once complained loudly about the prospect of homosexuals serving openly in uniform. "We feel that the new policy is working very well," said Air National Guard Lt. Col. Doug Hart, a Pentagon spokesman. A DIFFERENT STORY But gay rights activists tell a different story. They insist that the Pentagon's statistics fail to include 115 homosexuals who were facing discharge at the end of fiscal 1993, but had not been processed out because of a court order barring discharges of gays. The order has since been lifted. If these cases had been added to the overall statistics, the number of discharges in 1993 would have been higher than the previous year despite the introduction of the new policy. `Easy to get around' "Military commanders are finding it very easy to get around the new policy," said Dixon Osburn of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a group based here that provides legal services to military members affected by the military's restrictions on gays. "These regulations are not good. But as bad as they are, the military still violates them." At least 130 ongoing cases are being tracked by the network, according to Osburn. They include incidents in which: A Marine on Okinawa was stripped of his security clearance and transferred to another base after being accused of being in a homosexual ring. The Marine has never been formally charged, and no evidence has been used against him except that of another service member's statement. A Marine at a Southern base was brought before a discharge board based on a psychologist's report. The Marine questioned his own orientation during a private session with the psychologist, who then reported the conversation to commanders. A homosexual sailor at a U.S. base has been living in fear since an acquaintance was questioned by military investigators. He is hesitant to call male friends because of the possibility that it could somehow implicate him. Pentagon officials said they were not aware of any violations of the new policy. They contend the policy itself is clear: Service members will not be asked their sexual orientation, and they will not be discharged for homosexuality unless there is strong evidence they intend to engage in improper conduct. First use The policy, which went into effect Feb. 28, is being used in several ongoing discharge proceedings. The first public use of the policy occurred May 22 when a California Army National Guard officer was recommended for dismissal by an administrative board. First Lt. Andrew Holmes revealed his homosexuality in a letter to his commander in June 1993, according to his attorney, Paul Wotman. Army officials opted to wait until the new policy was in effect before pressing their case against Holmes. Holmes did not testify before the board, which recommended him for discharge based on the letter, Wotman said. The recommendation now goes to Sixth Army officials for final approval. If they agree with it, Wotman will attempt to block the dismissal by filing a lawsuit. Copyright 1994, Army Times Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Transmitted: 94-06-06 14:07:37 EDT