Activists predict end to aay military ban WASHINGTON (AP) — Opponents of the military's ban on homosexuals and lesbians in uniform are more confident than ever thnt the prohibition will full. It's just a matter of time, they say. point ing to a confluence of signs. Including —The introduction of legislation to kill the policy; —Rnleaso of a congressional study show ing the high cost of drumming gays out of the military; —A promise by Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton to repeal the ban if he is elected; —The scandal surrounding the Tuilhook Association's 1991 convention. "We've never been at this Juncture bo foro," said TanyB Domi. legislative director for the National Organization of (lay. Losbi an and Bisexual Votorons. “We have a presi dential nominee who has said he would re peal the policy, a bill in the House, a bill in the Senate. ... It is really, really remarkable in terms of the history ol the issue just how far wo have come " The change could happen in several ways: An act of Congress, the opinion of a high court or an executive order signed by the president. And while opponents don't agree on how or when, they do concur that the change is coming oven if Clinton loses. "The momentum is increasing as every gay service member and every lesbian sol dier comes forward, and we believe more members of Congress are personally moved by their stories," said Robert Bray, spokes man for the National Cay and Lesbian Task Force. "It is Imminent that this policy will fall." The defense department policy, which begun during World War 11, states simply that "homosexuality is incompatible with military service" liocauso it undermines the armed forces' ability to maintain gtxid order and morale. The Pentagon offers no studies or research to support the policy. Soldiers and sailors can he dismissed not only for homosexual conduct but also if they "demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual conduct," according to Penta gon policy. Some have fought their discharges in court, arguing that the policy is unconstitu tional, but only one soldier, Army Sgt Per ry Watkins, has over won The appeals court in Watkins' case rea soned that he had been candid about ills ho mosexuality from the start ol his career and the Army had continued to re-enilst him The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the We have a presidential nominee who has said he would repeal the policy, a biU In the House, a bill In the Senate.' — Tanya Domi, legislative director tor the National Organization of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans ‘Army's appeal >mil Watkins aubaoquently agrood to retire. The Supremo Court has never accepted a homosexual discharge caw; for review A recent study hy theCeneral Amounting Office found that the federal government spent almost half a billion dollars holwnen 1 980 and 1990 to kick homosexuals out of the service The costs Included recruiting, training and replacing personnel. Approximately 1.500 soldiers and sailors are discharged annually for homosexuality, the GAO found. Some It) percent of the population is be lleved to be homosexual and the military, despite its unti-gay policy, is probably no different, the report said. Rep Patricia Sehroeder, D-Golo.. intro duced a bill In May that would overturn the ban. Last month. Sen Howard Metzen haunt. D-Ohio, introdut ed it in the Senate With only a few weeks remaining in the H)2nd Congress, Sehroeder, a senior mem ber of the House Armed Services Commit tee, said she doubts there will lie hearings on the trill in 1992. The measure has 72 House co-sponsors and seven in the Senate, but has virtually no chance of passing in an election year. We obviously haven't had any votes on any issues like this, In either the House or the Senate, so it's hard to know where the middle is." Sehroeder said "The main attai ks on it have come from the Hermans and the Cunninghams and peo ple like that." she said, referring to Reps Robert Homan and Randall Cunningham, both conservative California Republicans and members of the Armed Services panel But the measure's strongest advocates suy the bill's mere existence constitutes one more weapon In a growing arsenal that will Ire used to topple the Iran "What it does is it serves us a very real club," saxl Rep Ted Weiss, I) N Y , a long limn gay-rights supporter "It lolls the de feme department that If you don't do It (overturn the bun), there Is the strong |kism htllty that Congress will mandate It I don't think, any agency likes to lx> in that kind of position I think that they will lie reviewing the policy." But Schrocder disagreed ‘‘I think the Pentagon's pretty lockixi in." she said. "I don't think they're going to do anything unless the legislation passes " She pointed to the case of Vice Adm Jack Fottorman, who was removixl last month as the Navy's chief of naval education and training for allegedly protecting an enlisted staffer accused of homosexual activity. “Obviously, he thought this was pretty stupid policy," Schrixidor st>MT« a nut ar micmail a»t*b INCIBER1 OBOIfll A EH * am* iis* irMi/i «u f*** ■ ART CINEMAS ■t 482 E 13th • 668 2456 ■ | Starts Friday, September 25 ""SPLENDID, EXHILARATING A TREAT." *'»•"* f »«*>» T>* HtW TOd* tttltfl MONSTER » INABOX Starts Friday, October 2 ITS PRE-HYSTERICAL' Also Starts Friday, October 2 THE DIRECTOR'S CUT / kllil M m oi l s M IIM I IK IION MOII Kill ( I NfAkklM. M\kkisov lokl> ktl<.» k ii\t ik At AN XII M. l»Nkk>l II \ A N AII JOANNA « 0\|H>