From: buckmr@vccsouth14.its.rpi.edu (Ron Buckmire)
Subject: Support for US Ban increases in NEWSWEEK poll
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 21:32:29 GMT


From Gaynet@gallifrey.kent.edu:

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- If President-elect Clinton lifts the ban on
homosexuals in the military, many gays and lesbians already in
uniform say they will heave a collective sigh of relief and get back
to work.  
   What they won't do is declare their homosexuality.  
   "It will not change my day-to-day life at all," said a gay Navy
lieutenant who recently came off active duty and is a reservist.
"However, I'll be completely relieved because I love the Navy. ...
This would be one less hindrance to me just wanting to be able to
serve my country."  
   "The people I want to know already know," said a naval petty
officer who also is gay. "I don't think anyone's really going to come
out of the closet."  
   The lieutenant and the petty officer, like everyone else
interviewed for this story, insisted on anonymity.  
   A lesbian Army reservist whose partner is on active duty said she
hopes many homosexuals in uniform do come out -- even though she said
she and her partner won't.  
   "If the ban is lifted an no one comes out, gee, it's all for
nothing," she said.  
   During his presidential campaign, Clinton said he would issue an
executive order ending the 50-year-old policy. He has reiterated that
promise since the election, despite warnings from top military men
that the action would disastrous for the services.  
   Pentagon policy states that "homosexuality is incompatible with
military service" and that the presence of homosexuals in the
military impedes "discipline, good order and morale."  
   No one knows how many gay people are serving in uniform. About
14,000 men and women have been kicked out of the services during the
past 10 years for being homosexual.  
   The Associated Press interviewed a cross-section of gay and
lesbian soldiers, sailors and airmen to learn how they feel about
Clinton's promise and the controversy that has been raging since he
made it.  
   Those who spoke insisted not only on anonymity but that their
locations be omitted. Several would talk only on phones away from
their base, fearing that their calls could be monitored.  
   Most said they have been watching the debate with a mixture of
optimism, worry and anger. They are hopeful that the pressure to lie
will disappear if the ban is lifted. But they are disgusted by some
of the arguments by some top military brass who support the
prohibition.  
   Gen. Colin Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and
Gen. Gordon Sullivan, the Army chief of staff, have said the presence
of gays would interfere with heterosexual troops' right to privacy.
Some former military leaders have said it might become necessary to
separate troops not only by sex but by sexual orientation.  

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed say
President-elect Clinton should delay his promise to lift
restrictions on gays in the military, Newsweek reported Saturday. 

   Support for the proposal to permit homosexuals in the armed
forces dropped from 59 percent in August to 48 percent currently,
said the magazine's Nov. 30 issue, which goes on sale Monday.  
   That's the first time since 1977 that support to end the ban on
homosexuals in the military has dropped below 50 percent, Newsweek
said.  
   More than half of those surveyed, 56 percent, did say gays
should be permitted to serve in a presidential cabinet. 
   The Gallup Organization interviewed 764 adults Nov. 19-20 for
the Newsweek poll, which has a sampling error of plus or minus four
percent.

-- 
RON BUCKMIRE, 11 Colvin Circle, Troy, NY 12180-3735.  ``D.C. in 93!''
vox:(518)-276-8910 fax:(518)-276-6920 buckmr@rpi.edu buckmr@rpitsmts.bitnet
"Yes, you can get AIDS from a mosquito...*IF* you have unprotected
receptive anal intercourse with an infected mosquito..." -- Randy Shilts
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