Date: Wed, 31 Jul 96 14:23:07 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: Defense Negotiators Reject Discriminatory HIV-Discharge Meas ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 30, 1996 DEFENSE NEGOTIATORS REJECT DISCRIMINATORY HIV-DISCHARGE MEASURE Dornan's Hateful Amendments Lose Again WASHINGTON -- Congressional negotiators nixed a provision today in the 1997 defense authorization bill that would have discharged members of the military who test positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. House and Senate conferees also rejected an amendment that would have overturned the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy and made anti-gay witch hunts the law. "Extremists were dealt a setback today and common sense prevailed," said Winnie Stachelberg, deputy director for legislation at the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian and gay political organization. "We hope this atmosphere lasts until the end of the session." Rep. Bob Dornan, R-Calif., personally attached the amendments when the billwas before his National Security subcommittee. The Senate version of the authorization bill contained an amendment, sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., mandating uniform treatment for all service members with chronic medical conditions. The Senate bill did not address the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "Congress has already rejected both of these policies, and it was forced to reconsider them because of Dornan's anti-gay obsession," Stachelberg added. "The conference committee was right to repudiate these unnecessary, spiteful measures." Another Dornan amendment, outlawing abortions at overseas military hospitals, was passed by the conference committee. Last week, House GOP leaders denied Dornan a seat on the conference committee, ostensibly because he openly supported Joseph DioGuardi, the conservative Republican who is challenging Rep. Sue Kelly in the New York GOP primary. Dornan has also staged several angry tirades on the House floor recently against Rep. Steve Gunderson, an openly gay Republican from Wisconsin who is a close friend of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. In April, Congress passed an omnibus budget bill that repealed a discriminatory HIV-discharge measure that Dornan had added to the 1996 Department of Defense authorization. Almost immediately, Dornan introduced a slightly modified version of themeasure to kick out service members with the virus that causes AIDS. "That version was even meaner in that it ordered service men and women to be kicked out two months after diagnosis, as opposed to six months," Stachelberg said. "Dornan tried to make it more palatable by allowing these people to retire with full benefits, but he couldn't mask his underlying bigotry." The discharge provision singled out service members with HIV and treated them differently from those with other chronic medical conditions. Currently, service members with HIV are allowed to serve their country as long as they can perform their duties, but they are not deployed overseas. The same policy applies to service members who have other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease or cancer. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -