Out in the Mountains

Defense Department
Again Defends Policy:
Schroeder Introduces
New Legislation

As recently as May 8th, Secretary of De-
fense Richard Cheney and General Colin
Powell again defended their support of
the military ban on lesbians and gays.
Powell, the highest ranking African-
American in the armed forces, called
Rep Pat Schroeder’s comparison of the
policy regarding gays to earlier policies
regarding blacks “invalid,” and said he
thinks the presence of gays in the mil-
itary is “prejudicial to good order and
discipline”. Cheney retreated from ear-
lier statements on the subject saying, “It
is a policy I inherited from my pre-
decessors and, having reviewed it with
the Joint chiefs of Staff, we think it is ap-
propriate to continue to maintain this ad-
ditional requirement for military service.
That is to say, that leads to the conclu-
sion that a gay lifestyle is incompatible
with military service.”

In late May, Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-
Colo.) introduced a bill seeking to direct-
ly repeal the military ban. The Military
Freedom Act of 1992 states that, “No
member of the armed forces, or person
seeking to become a member of the
armed forces, may be discriminated
against by the [military] on the basis of
sexual orientation.” Schroeder, a mem-
ber of the House Armed Services Com-
mittee, said, “Congress must take it upon
itself to change the policy. We can be si-
lent about this insidious discrimination
no more. Silence is tantamount to com-
plicity in the perpetuation of prejudice,
discrimination, and fear.” While chances
for passage are slim, especially in an
election year, introduction of the bill,
which had 44 co-sponsors as of May
28th, increases the visibility of the issue.

 

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Commentary

One
Courageous Pilot

Rob Roach

On May 21, Lieutenant Tracy Thome,
U.S. Navy, did the single most cou-
rageous thing I have ever seen a soldier
do.

Tracy Thome got tired of living a lie
forced on him by an archaic, absurd law.
Lieutenant Commander Thome “came
out,” on national television, on the Night-
line show, as a member of the armed forc-
es who is gay. Mr. Thome did this know-
ing that the result would be his expulsion
from the Navy. That’s the law. Anyone
who is discovered to be homosexual is
automatically expelled from the armed
forces of the U.S.

Was he tired of the Navy? Did he just
want out? Or was the issue bigger than
that? Tracy. Thome made it clear that he
loved the Navy, and wanted nothing more
than to serve in it. However his beliefs
made it impossible for him to continue to
serve under the system as it now exists.
These beliefs were more important to him
than the many years he spent advancing
his military career.

This, to me, shows incredible courage and
belief in one’s self. Lieutenant Thorne
demonstrated this courage and self belief
repeatedly during his naval career. I don’t
know his age, but he looks to be in his
mid to late twenties. He has won several
honors and awards, including the famed
“Top Gun.” He was at the top of his class,
and always an exemplary pilot. The men
who served under his command always
respected and admired him. Tracy Thome
even “came out” to several of his fellow
pilots over the past few years, and re-

Schroeder may also attach similar lan- Ceived their full support.
guage to the Department of Defense
Budget authorization legislation. V
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