Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 18:24:33 -0400
From: TomSwann@aol.com

Here is the transcript of the memo signed by the Secretary of the Navy on 23
May 1994.  The memo is on Department of the Navy, Office of the Secretary,
Wash. D.C.  20350-1000 ( letterhead).

MEMORANDUM TO ALL CIVILIAN DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY EMPLOYEES

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/DIVERSITY POLICY STATEMENT

Each civilian employee of the Department of the Navy is an essential member
of a team supporting our national defense mission.  Our continued success
requires that each civilian employee and applicant be afforded the
opportunity to excel without regard to his or her race, color, gender, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, religion, national origin, age, or disability.  

As Secretary of the Navy, I am personally committed to promoting equal
employment opportunity for all persons in the workplace, and providing
maximum opportunities at all levels of the organization.  This includes
bringing down any real or perceived barriers denying that opportunity.

In addition, I am totally committed to hiring and maintaining a work force
reflecting the diversity of our population.  The entire work force benefits
by recognizing and utilizing the unique qualities employees of different
backgrounds and cultures bring to the workplace.

To this end, I promise to ensure that the policies and objectives embodied in
our Equal Employment Opportunity Program provide the framework for the
Department to be viewed as a model employer.  The Department of the Navy will
provide a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind,
as well as empowering employees with the means necessary to reach their full
potential.

I fully expect our civilian and military managers to support these values in
their workplace decisions.  In addition, each employee can share in this
responsibility by maintaining a sensitivity to our cultural differences and
valuing the contributions each member of our team makes to the accomplishment
of our mission.

  Signed:  John H. Dalton 

================================================
 This transcript is provided by Tom Swann, retired Navy civilian employee and
member of Navy Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employees (GLOBE).  The Navy is the
ONLY branch of the military service to have this protection.  Swann's
successful ACLU discrimination complaint  was the impetus for this dramatic
policy change.