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APRIL 26 . 2003 • Q-NOTES MUitaiy 15 In the face of war "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" discharges decline Since the beginning of war, fewer are discharged, but still anti-gay harrassment continues WASHINGTON, DC — According to Pentagon statistics, during fi'scal year 2002 the armed services reported 906 "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Harass, Don’t Pursue” dis charges, down from 1273 in 2001 and the fewest discharges since 1996. Conduct Unbecoming, a new report from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) notes that, “During any time of war or conflict, gay discharges have dropped. Gay discharges decreased during the Korean War, the Viet Nam conflict, the Persian Gulf War, and now again during Operation Enduring Freedom.” SLDN estimates thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lesbian, gay and bisexual troops are serving in the current Middle East conflict. "When they need lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans most, military leaders keep us close at hand," said SLDN Executive Director C. Dixon Osburn. “The time has come to do away with the Pentagon’s charade and make sure no one loses his or her career at the hands of anti-gay discrimination.” Though the specific reasons for the report ed decrease in discharges is unknown, the report finds two factors may be responsible: I. Commands are increasingly reluctant to discharge openly lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. A recent memo from Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base, cited in the report, states, “Homosexuals can and do serve honor ably in the Marine Corps. Homosexuals can and do make some of the best Marines. Homosexuals are capable of Military Service and can and do perform as well as anyone else in the Military.” 2. More and more service members are serving openly, disputing arguments that open lesbians and gays under mine unit cohesion and morale. The report cites the case of Marine Corps Captain Kira Zielinski whose com mand learned she was a lesbian in April 2001, but delayed her discharge for more than a year. In another case, the Navy attempted to retain openly gay Hospitalman Roy Hill after learning about Hill’s sexual orientation. LGB discharges continue, however, at a rate of nearly three per day. “The absurdity of the military’s gay ban is vividly illustrated by its recent discharge of les bian and gay Arabic linguists,” Osburn said. “Even though the Army faced a 50 percent shortfall in trained Arabic linguists, they con tinue to fire qualified and trained linguists who happen to be gay.” "Visualize blowing up a gay bar" While reports of harassment have declined as well (from 1075 in 2001 to 802 in 2002), anti-gay harassment remains a serious prob lem across the services. Typifying the harass ment faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual serv ice members, SPC Brad Powell reports in Conduct Unbecoming that a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) instructed his unit, during hand grenade training, to visualize “blowing up a gay bar.” SPC Powell also tells SLDN that he heard NCOs tell soldiers that “the only way to decrease our nuclear arsenal is to put all fags JEFFREY GRANT KOENIG ATTORNEY-AT-LAW SUITE 760 The Addison 831 E. MOREHEAD ST. CHARLOTTE, NC 28202-2725 704r335-5471 SAM I AM! I can help you find the perfect place to cat your Green Eggs and Ham! Sam Esmail^ Realtor Coldwelj Banker United, REALTORS 8926 JM Keynes Drive Charlotte, NC 28262 Cell: 704-488-9132 Business: 704-547-8490 sesmail@cbunited.com www.coldwellbankerunited.com C3 on an island and nuke it,” and “the only thing a good fag needs is a good fag bashing.” Each of the services as well as Pentagon leadership have failed to implement an Anti- Harassment Action Plan adopted in 2000. “The Department of Defense has failed to issue a single Department-wide directive on harass ment as required by the [plan.] During time of war when good order and discipline is vital, it is irresponsible for the Pentagon to not take its commitment to end harassment seriously.” SLDN also faults the Bush Administration for “indifference towards lesbian, gay and bisexual service members,” citing the President’s recent re-nomination of Major General Robert T. Clark, former commanding general of Fort Campbell, for promotion to Lieutenant General — an appointment vehe mently opposed by all LGBT organizations. Other report findings: • “Don’t Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Harass, Don’t Pursue” discharges in both the Navy (218) and the Air Force (121) reached their lowest levels since the law’s implementation. The Army led all services in gay discharges (429 in 2002, down from 638 in 2001), while Marine Corps discharges dropped slightly, to 109 from 115 in 2001. The Coast Guard had the only increase in discharges, rising from 14 in 2001 to 29 in 2002. • Serious harassment continues. SLDN ‘ documented 405 incidents of anti-gay harassment in the Army (down from 480 in 2001), 76 incidents in the Air Foree (down from 119), 230 in the Navy (down from 271) and 57 in the Marine Corps (down from 150 in 2001). Only the Coast Guard saw an increase in anti-gay harassment, with SLDN documenting 34 incidents in 2002, up from 21 in 2001. • Women and youth continue to be dis charged at a rate disproportionate with their presence in the services. While some services did not provide a gender break-down, 36 percent of the Army’s discharges were women, while women comprise only 15 per cent of the Army’s total force strength. While women comprise only 7 per cent of the Coast Guard, 34 percent of Coast Guard discharges were women. Similarly, young men and women ages 18 to 25 comprised 58 percent of SLDN) clients during the 2002 report ing year. And, while young adults comprise only 35 percent of the Air Force, 83 percent of Air Force dis charges were youth. The report, which SLDN has made available to each of the Services and Members of Congress, calls on leaders to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Harass, Don’t Pursue” and implementation of the Pentagon’s Anti- Harassment Action Plan. “Equal opportuni ty...continues to be withheld from uniquely qualified American patriots,” the report says. “The time has come to lift the ban and welcome all qualified patriots to our struggle for freedom, regardless of their sexual orientation.” info: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. www.sltln.org LASER HAIR REMOVAL BUY1, GET 1 FREE! Purchase a treatment package for any body area and add an additional area of equal or lesser value for FREE! Women: Treat legs ami add bikini or underarms Freel Men: Treat hack and add chest or neck Free! Expires 4/30/03 REMOVE IT...JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER! 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