In the News

NEW GAY DISCHARGE FIGURES UP 73% SINCE
"DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL, DON'T PURSUE" FIRST IMPLEMENTED

PENTAGON ANNOUNCES NEW TRAINING TO CURB INVESTIGATIONS AND HARASSMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 1, 2000 -  The Pentagon today announced the gay
discharge figures for 1999.  The Pentagon discharged 1034 service members
for being gay in 1999, an average of three service members per day.  The
Pentagon figures are a 10% decrease over figures from last year's 1149
discharged, but a 73% increase in the 597 gay discharges in 1993, the last
year before "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue."

C. Dixon Osburn, Co-Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense
Network, stated, "It is a travesty that our government hunts, hounds and
then fires service members for being gay.  The minimal decrease in gay
discharges is a cause for sadness, not celebration."

The Pentagon today also announced new training programs on preventing
anti-gay harassment and improper investigations under "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell, Don't Pursue."  The guidelines are the first ever service-wide
guidelines on anti-gay harassment, and the first clarification of training
under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" since the policy was
implemented.  Among other developments, the guidelines instruct service
members how to report and commanders how to respond to anti-gay harassment.
The guidelines for the first time instruct service members that they may
seek confidential help from military defense attorneys and chaplains.  The
guidelines also instruct commanders on when and when not to investigate gay
service members under current law.

C. Dixon Osburn stated, "We have asked for training for six years, and the
Pentagon is now promising to train.  We welcome that development.  Everyone
serving our country needs to know that anti-gay harassment is wrong.
Anti-gay harassment in the military has been epidemic and it is high time
the Pentagon takes steps to address it.  The effectiveness of today's
training guidelines will ultimately depend on the commitment of our top
military leaders."

Today's guidelines do not change the law or regulations implementing "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue."  Gay service members still face the threat
of discharge unless completely secret about their sexual orientation.

The 1999 gay discharge figures show that gay discharges decreased in every
service but the Marine Corps.  In the Army, gay discharges decreased from
310 in 1998 to 271 in 1999.  In the Air Force, gay discharges decreased from
414 in 1998 to 352 in 1999.  In the Navy, gay discharges decreased from 345
in 1998 to 314 in 1999.  In the Marine Corps, however, gay discharges
increased from 76 in 1998 to 97 in 1999.

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ATTENTION SERVICE MEMBERS:  Under Article 31 of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice, you have the right to remain silent and to consult with a defense
attorney if you are investigated.  Say nothing.  Sign nothing.  Get legal
help.  Call SLDN at 202.328.FAIR (3247).