PAGE 18 ▼ Q-Notes T October 4, 1997
I I
Army report acknowledges
problem of “lesbian baiting
99
by Julia Adams
Special to Q-Notes
WASHINGTON, DC—On September 11,
the Army released the report of its Senior Re
view Panel on Sexual Harassment. The panel
had been tasked by Secretary of the Army Togo
West to review the Army’s policies and proce
dures to deal with sexud harassment and un
derlying reasons for harassment.
In an historic development, the report ac
knowledges the phenomenon of lesbian bait
ing in the Army, stating, “One panicular form
of sexual harassment not addressed in the sur
vey but commented on in a few focus groups
and by other female soldiers in informal dis
cussions, was the fear of being accused of being
a homosexual. Female soldiers who refuse the
sexual advances of male soldiers may be accused
of being lesbians and subjected to investigation
for homosexual conduct.”
Lesbian baiting is the phenomenon of call
ing or threatening to call women lesbians in
retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or
rape or for rebuffing sexual advances. Because
women accused as lesbian risk investigation as
suspected homosexuals, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,
Don’t Pursue” creates an obstacle to service-
women’s safety, arming perpetrators with a tool
of sexual extortion and forcing silence on
women who have been victimized. Service-
ask Billy Holliday
Off-key advice from an
off-color life
Dear Billy,
Do you vote?
— CM., Waco, TX
Dear C.M.,
No! Why? I mean, what was the last nice
thing that voting did for you? Elect Jesse Helms?
Sure, honey, I just love eleaing deadbeats to
high-paying jobs that let them suck the honey
from the hive and tax me for carrying the nec
tar. The problem with politics is that we all take
it far too seriously, believing that these politi
cians really care about the people that voted
them in. Did you ever wonder why one seat in
the US Senate is worth $30 million — for a
job that pays about $100,000 a year for six
years? Whoa! Something’s wrong there. Of
course, we know there is a lot to be made un
der the old table, right? [Ed. Note: While Billy is
entitled to her opinion — and we all know how
happy she is to share it— it is the officialpolicy of
this newspaper to encourage voting and political
involvement in all forms.]
Dear Billy,
It’s funny, but as much as I would like to go to
bed with someone, I get real nervous. If we go to
his place, I feel very vulnerable and worried about
not being able to get out. And, if we go back to my
place, I still worry about the danger of violence. It
really screws things up for me and I don’t know
members Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a
national watchdog group focused on protect
ing the rights of gay and lesbian enlistees, has
been striving to raise recognition of this type
of harassment since its inception.
Michelle Benecke, co-executive director of
SLDN, stated that she is “very pleased” with
this landmark development. “The Army’s rec-
ogmtion of the depth of the sexual harassment
within its ranks is groundbreaking. The task
now is for Army leaders to implement the Re
view Panel’s recommendations effectively.
Among other things, leaders must end retalia
tory lesbian baiting and instead investigate the
perpetrators of harassment.”
Benecke expressed her gratitude to the brave
military women who took the risk of reporting
their exjjeriences of lesbian baiting. “The cour
age of women in the field who raised this issue
is commendable. Simply mentioning this phe
nomenon is enough to threaten women’s ca
reers and safety.”
SLDN is asking supponers to contaa Army
Chief of Staff Reimer and Secretary of the Army
Togo West to encourage them to address this
critical issue. Contaa: Army Chief of Staff
Reimer, 200 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC
20310; (703) 695-2077; and Seaetary of the
Army, Togo West, 101 Army Pentagon, Wash
ington, DC 20310-0101; (703) 695-3211. y
what to do. I need your advice quickly and badly.
— B.J., Los Angeles, CA
Dear B.J.,
Welcome to the next millenniiun. There is
no easy answer to what you are saying. There is
so much going on out there right now that
many of us don’t know how to proceed. I un
derstand entirely how you feel. TTie way things
are, it’s sad. I remember once it was the thrill of
danger that added so much to the notion of
sex. Now there are so many sickles out there,
you just don’t know where to tread. Well, here
are some fun alternatives. One is those nice bars
that encourage group groping and all the dirty
things we like so much. (You might even find
Miss Billy there one night.) And then there’s
old ^hioned romance — have a couple of
dates, get to know one another, feel out the
boundaries. Discover how hot sex can be when
you’ve denied yourself. Role play. Talk dirty.
Then when the time is just right, hit it hard!
And remember, don’t give those bastards the
satis&ction of knowing they’ve scared us. Who
knows, maybe all this crap is a plot to make us
stop playaeating. Hang in there B.J., sex is good
whether it’s the first night or the third morn
ing, in the bedroom or in the booth.
Dear Billy,
I’m just curious; what is your stand on group
sex?
— BW, New York, NY
Dear P.W,
I won’t stand for group sex; in truth, I can
rarely stand after group sex!
Send your questions to Billy Holliday, POB
1726, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY
10011. T
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