Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 07:36:04 -0400 (EDT) From: A Jay Eddy Subject: AmFedVets Notes That SLDN Pleased On Questioning of AF (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 07:25:02 -0400 (EDT) From: A Jay Eddy To: karlclark@aol.com, ajayeddy@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us Subject: AmFedVets Notes That SLDN Pleased On Questioning of AF August 28, 1996 P.O.Box 1281 Release-Circulate Ft.Lauderdlae,FL 33302 KarlClark@aol.com "We Are One" THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF VETERANS "An Alliance for Equality of Rights" AmFedVets wants to especially thank many Americans for their concern and expression of dismay over the recent military attempts to escelate the witch-hunts against servicemembers solely because of their sexual orientation. Thousands of communications were transmitted alerting the public and concerned political leaders that the spirit of a less than satisfactory compromise, "Don't Ask-Don't Tell-Don't Pursue," was and is being seemingly subverted by over zealous anti-gay activist in the military. We want to especially thank SLDN for its never ending effort to protect the many members in our community who want to honorably and credibly serve their country regardless of the subversive agenda against them. Too many have taken these less than credible and honorable witch-hunts, targeted specifically against non-heterosexuals, as a violation of the principles of our Constitution and a abuse of military power which under emergency situations affords public censorship thereby covering up the graveness of the abuse. We thank SLDN, GLBVA, etc. for not abandoning those of us (as others seemingly have) whose only crime- in the eyes of our inquisitors- is our sexual orientation. Obviously the witch-hunt perpetrators intentionally and completely iqnor the spirit of civil law thereby placing military justice above our Founding Fathers intent. Tragically, they either openly and/or subliminally persecute us regardless of our sincere and dedicated desire to honorably serve a nation we deeply love and are morally committed to. That one day must and shall end. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 18:00:37 -0400 From:SLDN1@aol.com Subject: great press on hawaii U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, Sept. 2, 1996 issue Letters to: Fax 202-955-2685, E-MAIL: 71154.1006@compuserve.com Is the Air Force asking and telling? Gays allege a witch hunt at a Hawaiian base Throughout his 16 years as a Russian linguist, his superiors called Air Force Technical Sgt. Larry Smith (not his real name) "a fine young airman who exemplifies the highest Air Force standards of military bearing and behavior." "Exhibits great leadership potential," they said. "Promote at the earliest opportunity." But now an Air Force investigation into his sexual conduct at Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base is threatening Smith's hopes of spending 20 years in the service--and casting serious doubts on whether the Pentagon is obeying the Clinton administration's controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military. Three years after the President and Congress ordered the military not to pursue gay service members who don't tell anyone about their homosexuality, gays are being investigated and expelled more often than ever. The Air Force discharged 234 last year under the policy, up about 30 percent over 1994; such discharges for the armed forces overall increased 21 percent. The emerging case in Hawaii "is one of many witch hunts" that have come to light, charges C. Dixon Osburn of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a legal advocacy group. Traps in church? The Hickam case suggests that some local commanders may be ignoring Washington's pronouncements. Pentagon rules allow official inquiries about homosexual acts but not about mere sexual orientation, and bar service members from stating they are gay. "There will not be a process whereby each service member is interrogated about his or her partners," promised then Pentagon General Counsel Jamie Gorelick (now deputy attorney general) in 1993. But in Hawaii, Smith and four other men were asked about their sexual behavior, and records obtained by U.S. News show that co-workers were asked about Smith's sexuality. It's not only Smith: Anyone who bought a drink at Hula's Bar and Lei Stand, a Honolulu club with a heavily gay clientele, could have been a suspect. The files say that a Smith co-worker was asked: "Did you ever notice homosexual couples [at Hula's]?" And military investigators have asked Honolulu's Metropolitan Community Church, which ministers to gays and lesbians, for membership lists and records of commitment ceremonies, says Pastor Jon Bullock, who refused. "It's unconscionable to think that the military would try to entrap gays and lesbians by using church records," he says. The Hawaii case began last January, when Senior Airman Bryan Scott Harris struck a deal with prosecutors. Facing a long prison term for sexually assaulting another man while both were drunk, he pleaded guilty and got a 20-month sentence. In exchange, says an Air Force report, "Harris agreed to turn over names of other military members involved in acts of sodomy." At least two enlisted men he named have been discharged. The single officer named was hit with several criminal charges, including sodomy and exposing himself, some arising from a 1993 incident. "The Air Force put the screws to Harris," says Kirk Cashmere, the officer's civilian attorney. "He was asked to talk on subjects clearly unrelated to the investigation." Pentagon officials won't discuss the case, pending a report from the Air Force inspector general that may be completed this week. But they insist that investigators can legitimately examine allegations of misconduct if someone volunteers credible information. Gorelick has said that the "don't pursue" policy does not mean "investigators must blink at evidence that is staring them in the face." Still, the alleged homosexual purge at Hickam has drawn attention to other cases. The Army inspector general has found that an investigation into the sexual orientation of female soldiers in South Korea was improperly conducted. The Navy is checking allegations that as many as 60 women aboard the USS Simon Lake, based in Italy, were targeted for questioning about lesbianism. Gay service members in Hawaii contend that "don't ask, don't tell" has made their lives more difficult. Sailor Randy Wallace of Barbers Point Naval Air Station was accused of homosexual acts after investigators found personal letters he allegedly wrote to another male sailor. "There is blatant disregard for the policy here," he charges. An Air Force official argues that most commanders understand the policy and believe it is working. But that doesn't satisfy gays trying to serve without revealing their sexuality, who say that the military too often has broken its pledge to respect their privacy.