Pentagon: Discharge of Gays Rose
The Associated Press, June 1, 2001
WASHINGTON––The number of military personnel
discharged for homosexual conduct or for stating their homosexuality rose by
17 percent last year to the highest total in recent years, the Pentagon said
Friday.
The Army’s total more than doubled, while the Air Force had a 50 percent
decline.
In all, 1,212 members of the armed services were discharged during the 2000
fiscal year that ended last Sept. 30, compared with 1,034 the year before and
1,145 the year before that, the Pentagon said.
Of last year’s total, all but 106 of the discharges were cases in which
military members stated their homosexuality. The others were discharged for
homosexual acts.
The military permits homosexuals to serve so long as they do not engage in
homosexual conduct or state their sexual preference.
The Pentagon gave this breakdown, by service:
Army: 573 total discharges, compared with 271 the year before. Of the 573,
all but 35 were troops who stated their homosexuality. The rest were people
the Army said engaged in homosexual conduct.
Navy: 358 total discharges, up from 314 the year before. Of the 358, all
but 42 were for homosexual statements.
Air Force: 177 total discharges, down from 352. Of the 177, all but 19 were
for homosexual statements.
Marine Corps: 104 total discharges, up from 97 a year earlier. Of the 104,
all but 10 were for statements.
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