In an interview with Perot's campaign chairman, Tom Luce,
The New York Times (7/10/92) reports that Perot, as
President, "would unequivocally favor an end to the
Government policy that bars homosexuals from serving in
the United States military."

"He's going to tell his Cabinet officers: 'Here's my
policy -- I'm against discrimination in this Government.
This applies throughout the Government.  Now you go out
and carry out that policy,'" Luce said.

But he said Perot would not promise that he would
directly order his Secretary of Defense to reverse the
current ban, leaving open the possibility that that
secretary could still decide to leave the ban in place.
Luce made it clear, however, that such a scenario was
very unlikely, and that Perot's Secretary of Defense
would be clearly told Perot's wishes that there be no
discrimination.

"Ross Perot has made it clear that if he is elected
President, it will be his policy that every person
should be judged on merit, and that there shouldn't
be any discrimination based on race, religion, gender
or sexual orientation," Luce said.  "And that is his
policy for the Government.  This includes every agency
of the United States Government.  It applies to
Government policies across the board."

When he was asked if the policy would apply to military
agencies and personnel, Luce said, "Yes.  It applies,
period."

Perot's liaison with the G/L community, Debra Olson,
said later that Perot was unwilling to use more specific
language on this issue because of political concerns.
"It's not even a lose-lose proposition," she said, "it's
a die-die proposition."
-- 
rod williams/pacific * bell/san francisco/rjwill6@pacbell.com/415-542-6015
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"At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of
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