Military readies to suspend gay discharges

Military readies to suspend gay discharges

SUMMARY: Preparing for war, the Pentagon authorized a suspension of military discharges — including those based on a disclosure of homosexuality.

As the United States prepares for war in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks, Pentagon leaders have authorized each service secretary to suspend military discharges — including those based on a service member’s disclosure of homosexuality.

Major James P. Cassella of the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs office told the San Francisco Chronicle, in a report published on Tuesday, that a « stop-loss » order has been authorized, allowing leaders of the military services to call a stop to discharges.

The last time a stop-loss order took effect was during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

Casella noted, however, that the « don’t ask, don’t tell » policy enacted by President Clinton in 1993 is still in effect. « Gays and lesbians would be allowed to serve during any war, just as they do now, » he said, « as long as they remain in compliance with the homosexual conduct policy. »

C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), said any stop-loss order would be « explicit recognition by the Pentagon that gays and lesbians can serve their country, and do so with honor and distinction. »

Osburn added that during the stop-loss order implemented for the Gulf War, gay and lesbian discharges dropped « significantly. »

The discharges increased, however, once the Gulf War service members returned to the United States, according to the SLDN, a Washington-based advocacy group for gays and lesbians in the military.

Osburn believes the stop-loss order highlights the need to change the military’s « don’t ask, don’t tell » policy.

« Any (stop-loss) order should not be a temporary reflection of gays’ and lesbians’ ability to be put in harm’s way in defense of our freedoms, » he said, « but a permanent recognition of their right to serve our nation in times of both war and peace. »

CNN reported Wednesday that dozens of military aircraft will be deployed within days to bases in the Persian Gulf. Tentatively titled « Operation Infinite Justice, » the move is a response to the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.