Senate to seek views on gay ban
NORFOLK. Va (AP) — The
Senate committee pondering
the I win on gays in the military
takes its inquiry to the decks
of U S. warships Monday,
seeking the views of rank-and
file sailors out of earshot of Navy brass.
Tile senators hove guaranteed confidentiality, hut
some crew members clearly regard the arriving
Washington delegation ns a minefield to negotiate
with the utmost corn.
"If they ask me. I'll tell them." said one veteran
submariner whose hoot is in port at the 130-ship
Norfolk Naval Base, headquarters of the Navy's
Atlantic Fleet. "Hut I'm not going looking for them '
The submariner declined to share his opinions with
a reporter.
Members of the Armed Forces Committee will
visit the I wise for the first of two field hearings on
the Pentagon's bon on gays serving openly, which
President Bill Clinton wants to lift The second hear
ing is scheduled for May 17 at an as yet unan
nounced military Iwse
After the morning shipboard tours and interviews
at Norfolk, the senators will have a more traditional
afternoon hearing, complete with fni ing tables,
microphones and television cameras, open to all
military members and their families
Far from encouraging openness, however, that
session in a Naval Air Station auditorium is stacked
against anyone who opposes the ban. said l.t j g.
Trecy Thorne, a Navy flier until he disclosed his
homosexuality on national television a year ago.
"I'm disappointed they've chosen this setting
It makes it very difficult for anyone to tome out and
testify to overturn the ban." said Thome, who lost
week loomed he was to lie ploced on inactive reserve
while his case is reviewed
"The environment is completely hostile to some
one who would move from the status quo." he said.
‘It s difficult for any straight member to come out
and testify against the ban without being impli
cated ns being gay."
Last week, other details of the hearings provoked
angry words between two committee members Sen
Edward Kennedy. D-Mass.. argued with -Sen Sam
Nunn. D-Ga., the committee chairman, about the
expertise of witnesses testifying about gays in for
eign military force*. all of whom were American.
IH1
Tempers have also flared at hearing* of the House
Armed Services Committee
The shipboard interviews were arranged to per
mit more private c onversations away from superi
or officers, who will likely attend the afternoon
hearing Any crew member may call a special tele
phone number to request time with a senator The
panel has promised confidentiality, saying name*
and information provided in those interviews won't
be disclosed to superiors
But sailors who spoke to The Associated Press
after the Held hearing was announced last Tuesday
expressed concern about the event All requested
anonymity for this story, and many lamented the
re< cut intrusion of politics into their lives
The Navy has been coping with assorted eco
nomic and social changes, from plans to cut fleet
strength and permit combat training for women
to fallout from sexual misconduct at the Tailhook
convention.
"I'd like to go. but I'm not getting in the middle
of that mess." one sailor said of the hearing. "It
won't make any difference They're going to do what
they want."
A two-year Navy man assigned to a shore unit
said he plans to make u career of the servic e and
didn't want to hurl his chances for advancement
"My command might not like me talking." he said.
With varying degrees of reluc tance, most sailors
said they were willing to accept homosexuals at
base jobs. But none wanted to serve with gays at
sea
"They shouldn't have gay people on a ship," said
the shore-based sailor. "If they're in a shore com
mand. I don't see anything wrong with it But for
their personal safety. I think they shouldn't go in
at all."
"I've got no problem with it as long as they can
do their job," said a five-and-a-half year veteran
assigned to a cruiser. “But a ship is close quarters.
I don't like the idea of getting undressed and hav
ing eyes on me all the time."
"When you're in the middle of the ocean sharing
a bod with someone, alternating 12 hours on and
12 hours off. you want to know who you can trust,"
said an aircraft carrier crewman, an 11-year veter
an.
None of the sailors said they would quit the Navy
if the ban were lifted
Crescent Days
Are here!
May 13th
Slain man’s daughter
urges abortion rights
PENSACOLA. Fla. (AP) — The teen-age daughter of a slain
abortion clinic doctor came to the city where ner father was
murdered and urged activists to stand up for abortion rights.
“My father lost his life to the hands of a civil rights opponent
who decided to abort a 47-year-old man,” Wendy Gunn told
the crowd Saturday. "We must prove to the anti-choice move
ment that we will not be intimidated by their terrorism."
Michael F. Griffin. 31, a former Pensacola chemical plant
worker, is accused of shooting Dr. David Gunn as he arrived at
Pensacola Women’s Medical Services March 10 in the midst of
an anti-abortion demonstration. Griffin is scheduled to go on
trial for murder |une 21.
More than l.OOO-people par
ticipated in Saturday's rally for
abortion rights, police estimat
ed.
The 18-year-old Ms. Gunn
said she was inspired by her
father, who performed abor
tions at several clinics, long
before his death. "I wanted to
be |ust like him." she said.
Meanwhile. 16 abortion
opponents across town prayed
around a vandalized memorial
to women who have had abor
HSy father lost his
life to the hands
of a civil rights
opponent who
decided to abort
a 47-year-old
man.'
— Wendy Gunn,
daughter of slain doctor
tions. The bronze statue of a
woman kneeling in prayer had been smashed overnight.
At the abortion rights rally sponsored by the National Orga
nization for Women, marchers carried signs that read “For
mer Fetus for Choice" and "We Won't Back Down — Stand up
for Justice.”
They chanted “Pro-life bigots feel the heat" and “Hitler
would have loved you. Operation Rescue."
The march was greeted with two anti-abortion signs on the
downtown route. A Knights of Columbus hall was adorned
with a sign reeding “Adoption. Not Abortion," and an airplane
overhead pulled an anti-abortion banner that read: "Male Doc
tors Hide Behind NOW’s Pants."
A counterdemonstration aimed at directly confronting the
abortion rights marchers was called off a couple of weeks ago
by its organizer. John Burt. A local representative of Houston
based Rescue America. Burt was leading the demonstration
taking place when Gunn was shot.
Law School
Hud Buyback
Of the New Selling Price
on Books Needed for
Summer or Fall Terms
Must be Clean!
May 5th - May 15th
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