European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Flap Over Gay ban surprised Clinton Fly hic ii a i i. Ii Krak the new York times Washington acknowledging that they underestimated the opposition in Congress and it the Pentagon to homosexual in the Nill Lenry White House Nides Siviy the struggle tins left president a Union in i new kurd test of wills on in Issue hint neither he nor Gay rights organizations and undo a High priority. As a result it n moment when he is More interested in denting with his economic Agenda. Clinton has Little Choice hut to expend precious political capital with Congress in pushing ahead on his Campaign Promise to end the military s twin on homosexuals. Although the White House scrambled to neck Compromise with lawmakers aides to Clinton made Clear that he would not Back Down from his goal of re analysis d verging the ban and thus avoid being attacked for breaking a Campaign pledge or for abandoning his Gay constituency. Hut the course of events left some of Clinton s strongest supporters conceding that he miscalculated the political repercussions of his pledge from the Start. Many argued that the president could have had in easier Lime if lie had dealt with the Iran inst week when he issued orders on abortion and other makers. A although the extent of Public opposition to homosexuals in the military is impossible to judge accurately there has can a far louder outcry in the past Sci Era Days on the Issue than there was during the Campaign. Clinton s move should have come As no be Surprise to the military or to Congress ending the ban was firmly and consistently listed As a Campaign pledge even if lie raised the Issue Only sporadically oif the Trail. Although Gay organizations have Long demanded that homosexuals be admitted into the military their political efforts during the Campaign were concentrated on raising Money to fight the aids epidemic and on broader efforts to protect homosexuals against discrimination in housing and the workplace. Quot i think it s something that we almost backed into Quot Clinton said when asked in an interview in August about his positions on matters important to Gay americans. While he said his proposal on homosexuals in the military would a frighten some americans Quot he predicted that a if the american people will hear me out i . Lines jammed with pro ban Calls Fly Cox news service Washington they have thrown out an incumbent president and taken Down a Cabinet nominee. Now the Public is setting its sights on president Clinton s plan to lift a Federal ban on homosexuals in the military. Quot i think the the interest of the american people once divided opinion a so Xvi a a ass  i Quot i think the Campaign of 1992 aroused in interest of the american people once again in politics they know Lilicy can change things. They can have an Impact. They can heat City Hall a said Hep. John Lewis a a a member of his party a leadership in the House. The . Senate and White House switchboards were jammed tuesday and wednesday and House members reported receiving hundreds of phone Calls from voters veterans and Scarvie Mcm items who Don t want to Sec the ban lifted. Quot thu lines arc jammed a said a Senate staff member Quot and virtually All of the Calls arc  that was especially True in the office of Senate armed services chairman Sam Nunn d-ga., who has become the Leader of the opposition. Spokesman Scott Williams said Nunn has received thousands of Calls most of them in opposition to Clinton s plan. Generally the callers complained that allowing Gays and lesbians into the military would invade the privacy of heterosexuals damage morale and threaten the camaraderie tint is vital in combat situations. Brian Reta spokesman for rep Mac Collins a Gay a said that callers were asking a who would want to Send their son or daughter to War and not know who they Are bunking with it would he like cats and dogs living together total  t however Lewis said be was unlikely to be swayed try the Calls. Following Ara responses to the question do you approve or disapprove of allowing openly homosexual men and women to Servo in the armed forces of the United states Overall approve strongly so to what approve 1 somewhat disapprove strongly disapprove no opinion of voters men women Volod Lor Clinton a ass 7 s Volod Lor Bush Quot be 0 m a Volod Lor Pori a n a age 26-64 age 65 and Over source. Los Engulos times Rex of 1,733 adults nationwide. Jan. 14-17. Margin at error is plus or minus 3 percentage Points. Numbers done Todd la 100 because Quot Don t know Quot to amp Pon mjg Are omitted. Ss8 Edward cud me have what i consider to be a Basic com Mon sense View of  what Clinton clearly did not anticipate then was that some people would try to expand his comments into a referendum or whether homosexuality is acceptable in America. Even More important Clinton a advisers said the president did not anticipate the depth of outrage among democrats in Congress and the joint chiefs of staff Over an Issue that to them was in Many ways symbolic and on its face less complicated than practical matters like improving the Economy. But the matter became so contentious that at a time of International crises it Donie Nutch Clinton s first meeting with the joint chiefs. Most nations allow Gays in military London at1 countries from Denmark to Israel openly allow homosexuals to serve in the military. But even in the most Liberal countries Gays often Don t feel comfortable revealing their sexual orientation. Nato members France Germany Italy Spain Belgium the Netherlands and Denmark allow Gays to serve but discipline them if their homosexuality enters the Barracks. The same holds True for Fin. Land and Israel. Only the United states Greece,1 Turkey and Britain among the 16-nation North Atlantic treaty organization still ban homosexuals in the military. Russia Japan and major latin american nations also forbid Gays in uniform. Openly homosexual behaviour still works against the Gay Soldier s acceptance even in the most Liber Al countries. Quot the swedish system is built on the fact that the individual keeps it to himself a said swedish military press spokesman Dertil Tern cart. In Finland and Italy Gay draftees can seek exemption from one year mandatory military service but few do. As Long As homosexual soldiers do not disturb the atmosphere in the Barracks or create a a a problem for colleagues they can make the military a career said an italian defense ministry spokesman. Military s ban on Gays Only 10 years old report says Fly the new York times Washington a before world War ii homosexuals were allowed to serve in the . Military. Ami though Rusl Riel ions existed after that the current Hail on service did not take shape until w2, military historians say. La world War ii military psychiatrists treated homosexuality As ail illness that usually resulted in a dishonourable discharge if the a treatment Quot failed. But the flexibility of regulations the concealment i a homosexuality and the need for sol diet i in wartime meant that thousands of Gay i my served in the aimed forces a i of Iluigi la a report issued this month by Llic a on Gicy to dial Rescan h Sei Vicc. The military s policy gradually shifted against dictation through the 1910s to in the 1970s, beginning in 1966 the army required a psychiatric examination before a service member could be discharged for homosexuality. The defense departments current policy adopted in january 1982, dispensed with the psychiatric treatment rejecting changes in society toward treating homosexuality. It also stated that a a homosexuality is incompatible with military service Quot and ordered the discharge of soldiers or sailors who engaged in homosexual acts or stated their homosexual orientation. The Pentagon policy defines a homosexual As Quot a person who engages in desires to engage in or intends to engage in homosexual  the defense department has discharged an average of 1,500 men and women a year for homosexuality although dismissals have been dropping in recent years As Many commanders stopped spending dwindling resources on racking Down homosexuals. Last year for example 700 people were discharged for homosexuality said a Pentagon spokesman it. Col. Doug Hart. Since 1982, most of those dismissed have received honorable discharges. Before that a person had to have committed a homosexual act to be dismissed and received a dishonourable discharge Hart said. . Military Law did not address homosexuality before world War i. The articles of War of 1916, the first revision of military Law since 1806, included the first mention of sodomy though narrowly defined according to an article in the win Ter 1991 Issue of the military Law review before world War ii several differing policies and regulations allowed differing treatment of Gay men and lesbians in the armed forces according to the new study by the congressional research service a unit of the Library of Congress that does research for Congress. The study was prepared by Daviu f. Burrelli a National defense analyst a effeminate men were assigned away from the combat arms and placed in jobs not considered to require particularly masculine qualities such As clerks Hospital corpsmen chaplain s assistant or camouflage specialities Quot Allan Berube wrote in cowing out under Ore 77u? history of Guy men and women in world War if Penguin books 1991 ,