Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 17:31:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Michael Beer Subject: Coast Guard Ban Copyright 1994 News World Communications, Inc. The Washington Times April 27, 1994, Wednesday, Final Edition SECTION: Part A; Pg. A1 LENGTH: 595 words HEADLINE: Coast Guard revises policy letter on gays BYLINE: Rowan Scarborough; THE WASHINGTON TIMES BODY: The Coast Guard yesterday canceled a new directive that granted equal opportunity protection to homosexual personnel after concluding its language could be interpreted to cover military people. Cmdr. Ernest Del Bueno, a Coast Guard spokesman, said a new directive was issued yesterday spelling out that the protection extends only to civilians. He said the new directive is worded so that "there will be no mistake that the military is not included." The revision followed a report in The Washington Times yesterday about the directive and its vague language. Military personnel, under a new administration policy and a new federal law, are subject to discharge if they disclose they are homosexual. Civilians face no such restrictions. The Coast Guard issued a one-page statement last evening saying: "The U.S. Coast Guard today rescinded letters on civilian personnel diversity policy because they appeared to constitute a major policy change for Coast Guard active duty military members." The March 15 directive, from civilian personnel chief Thomas Fisher, went to people serving on promotion and training boards. It said "all Coast Guard members" should not be denied opportunites based on "sexual orientation." With that phrase, the Coast Guard became the first military branch to grant such protection to civilians. The Coast Guard statement yesterday said the guidance "was erroneous in that it could be read to apply to military members, which was not the intent." "The letters were not reviewed or approved by Coast Guard leadership," Cmdr. Del Bueno said. The new directive, dated yesterday, reads: "Equality of treatment and opportunity for civilian Coast Guard members without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnic groups, cultural backgrounds, age, sexual orientation, or disability is the policy of the Coast Guard." PAGE 15 The Washington Times, April 27, 1994 Cmdr. Del Bueno said the Coast Guard's 38,000 uniformed personnel will continue to be subject to a new Clinton administration policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." Personnel are subject to discharge if they disclose they are homosexual. With the cancellation, however, the Coast Guard will still be the only military branch that extends protection to civilians who are homosexuals. The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, where Secretary Federico Pena has pushed an aggressive homosexual-rights policy. The Defense Department, which includes the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, does not specifically extend equal opportunity protection to homosexuals. Federal civil rights laws also do not contain references to sexual orientation. Proponents of continuing a ban on homosexuals in the military contended that defense lawyers would be able to exploit the Coast Guard's inconsistent policies on civilians and military personnel in court challenges to "don't ask, don't tell." The Coast Guard did not extend protection based on sexual orientation in its original directive, titled "Diversity Precept" and dated Jan. 27. But after a homosexual rights group at the department called GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employees) complained, a revised policy was issued on March 15. Kitti Durham, a personnel specialist at the Coast Guard who works under Mr. Fisher, said she sent a letter to him requesting the change after seeing the first directive. Ms. Durham is chairman of the department's GLOBE group and edits its newsletter.