Greetings,
In the Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth Minnesota) today 12/11/91 on the
editorial page, the following editorial greeted us this morning. 
Considering the homophobic dribble we have been subjected to in the
past, we feel like we are making real progress with the press here in
the Northland.

LET GAYS SERVE IN MILITARY

Judge's ruling that the military can ban gays because of AIDS fears is
spurious

First of all, the U.S. Constitution is supposed to protect everyone and
not just those that some elements in our society decide deserve
protection.  Most Americans understand that, but a federal judge in
Washington showed Monday he doesn't.
US District Judge Oliver Gasch upheld the Defense Department's ban on
allowing homosexuals to serve in the military.  And get this:  Gasch
said the ban is OK because the military must have the ability to protect
military personnel from AIDS.
Talk about a convienient justification cropping up.  The military has
banned homosexuals from its ranks since ling before the AIDS threat was
even heard of.
The case involves a former Naval Academy midshipman who disclosed hw was
gay and as a result was barred from graduation.  He says the case will
be appealed.
At the next federal court level, we trust the bench will see beyond this
spurious AIDS argument (not to diminish the seriousness of AIDS
throughout our society, including the military), and grant the
ex-midshipman and other homosexuals their rights by admitting that all
gays do not have AIDS, that AIDS does not just affect gays and that the
AIDS virus is not spread by casual contact or promiximity.
As is the case with other chronic diseases, the military should not have
to accept people who alreadytest positive for AIDS before signing up. 
Disease can be a criterion for rejecting prospective enlistees; sexual
orientation should not be.
This case comes closer to home than most people might think.
ROTC programs that don't admit gays on college campuses, including UMD
and UWS, are being challenged where institutional bans on such
discrimination exist.
Colleges that forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation should
set a timetable and, unless the Pentagon soon drops its ban on
homosexuals in the military or is ordered to do so, should boot ROTC
units off campus.  ROTC programs are good for colleges and the
military's officer corps, but colleges shouldn't bend their rules if the
military insists on keeping its unfair ones.


Looks like our work with the media is paying off!