302 more soldiers than it did the year before. The Army came under serious fire for the harassment of perceived homosexuals after the 1998 beating murder of a sleeping soldier at Fort Campbell, Ky., by another soldier who believed the victim to be gay. The military discharged 1,212 service members for homosexual conduct in the year 2000, up from 1,034 in 1999.
Conduct is defined as either statements or behavior indicating homosexuality.
It is the highest number of discharges since 1993, when the Clinton administration softened the stance on homosexuals in the services. The Air Force alone experienced a significant drop in discharges relating to homosexual conduct, going from 352 in 1999 to 177 in 2000. The Navy discharged 358 members, up from 318 in 1999. The Marine Corps discharged 104 Marines, up from 97 in 1999. Copyright 2001 by United Press International.