Portland. Oregon
IN THIS ISSUE:
Kebo Drew writes about
black history: a living legacy
(p. 17)
...And
the Ban
Plays On
by Rex W ockner
T
he United States military’s ban
on gays and lesbians has been
diagnosed with a terminal illness
and given six months to live, on
a respirator.
President Bill Clinton Jan. 29 partially
suspended the ban for six months, after
which he intends to issue an executive
order overturning it.
Clinton wanted to kill it immediately,
but key senators insisted hearings must be
held first. The hearings will begin in
March. Had Clinton not agreed to their
demand, the senators might have voted to
overturn his executive order and may have
punished him with uncooperativeness on
other matters.
Some Republican senators are still
expected to try to turn the military’s anti­
gay 'directive" into a full-blown federal
law, but Clinton would veto such legisla­
tion, and it is unlikely Congress could
muster the votes to override him.
Continued on page 8