Queer Planet, Human Rights Research Office 1244 NE 102nd Street, Suite 111 Portland, OR 97220 Phone: (503) 256-4353 Contact: Kim Grittner For Immediate Release Military Ban Violates basic human rights and fosters sexual harrasment against women in the military. PORTLAND, OREGON, JANUARY 27, 1993 --Queer Planet, a non-profit, international queer human rights organization whose purpose is to defend the human and civil rights of sexual minorities and to eliminate discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgender people announced today that the military ban against homosexuals is in direct violation of international agreements and fosters sexual harrasment against women in the military. I. Human Rights Violations: On April 2, 1992, the United States Senate ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (S 4783-4784). Article 2 of this Covenant guarantees that the United States will ensure that: "the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." Furthermore, Article 25 states that: "Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions: ... c. To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country." II. Sexual Harrassment of Women: A book entitled "Homophobia - How we all pay the price," published in 1992 by Beacon press, exposes how the military policy of barring homosexuals from the armed services is used to "justify the harassment and intimidation of military women, lesbian and straight." It should be noted that although women comprise a minority within the armed services, the anti-homosexual ban is used against women at a rate ten times that of men. Lesbian baiting is tied to sexual harassment of military women in that it is often triggered by a servicewomen's refusal of sexual advances by a heterosexual male. Women who serve in nontraditional jobs regardless of their sexual orientation are most likely to be lesbian baited. This is due in part because "the traits necessary for success in those jobs often coincide with stereotypical ideas about lesbians as aggressive, tough women." III. Closure Queer Planet is very concerned that this type of oppression is ended as soon as possible, and that the Congress abide by legally binding treaties.