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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1995)
12 ▼ July 7 . 1 9 0 9 ▼ j u s t o u t Arouse HCaraatval. Driven by valves 4 NIGHT GETAWAY Your EÇŒNTIAL lotions & oils 3638 SE H aw thorne, 97214 # 236-7976 710 NW 23rd Avenue, 97210 # 248-9748 ttaàtSA PARKXNCi VALIDATED Do you live or work in Washington County? alm apspari smart Ip Michael Scott One SW Columbia Suite 1010 Portland, OR 97258 (503) 227-3639 FAX (503) 227-0602 1-800-248-0624 David Tarver All fame 6 ratee eabjact la TRAVEL SERVICE sexuality as one of the conditions that requires n June 26, Lt. Richard P. Watson reduction of full severance pay by one-half. The announced a multi-level assault to secretary of the Navy has the discretion to grant the U.S. Defense Department’s “don’t full separation pay in extraordinary instances, where ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay denial of such pay would be unjust. In this instance men and lesbians in the military. secretary determined that Watson is not en Watson is being involuntarily discharged the from titled to the full amount, despite his 13-plus years the U.S. Navy because of homosexual conduct. He of exemplary service as a nuclear submarine of will file an injunction sometime this month to stop ficer and the recommendation of his commanding his forced discharge from the Navy; doing so will officer that he receive full pay. allow him to stay in the military while challenging Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-Oregon) was moved the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. to intervene on Watson’s behalf. She wrote to Watson has also filed a formal discrimination Capt. Marty Alford at the Department of the Navy, complaint against the Reserve Officer Training requesting that Watson “receive a fair and impar Corps at Oregon State University, where until June tial review of his military ser 30 he was the Sophomore vice record and that his sev Instructor and Nuclear erance pay be determined ac Programs Coordinator cordingly.” Furse received a for the Naval ROTC. In response from C. West, an that complaint, Watson assistant with the Navy’s requests that the provost Congressional Liaison Of of OSU halt all ROTC fice, who wrote: “Only those operations until the Navy personnel fully qualified for stops its discriminatory retention are offered full sepa practices. OSU has a ration pay. Lt. Watson is not policy forbidding dis qualified for retention since crimination on the basis he voluntarily revealed his ho of sexual orientation. mosexual orientation to his Last, Watson will ini C om m anding O fficer.... tiate legal action against Even though Lt. Watson is a the Department of De good officer, this does not fense to eliminate its dis q . entitle him to full separation criminatory policy of re ducing separation pay I pay.” i W atson ’ s attorney, Frank benefits to members of | Dixon, believes that the the armed forces who are > Navy’s severance pay policy involuntarily discharged o is inconsistent with the new because of their sexual j “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. orientation. The severance pay policy was Watson’s ordeal be- . _. , , „ r\ . u m 1994, n a Lt. Richard P. Watson not reviewed or revised when gan in October the Department of Defense when he provided writ adopted the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Dixon ten notification to the professor of Naval Science at has corresponded with representatives of the Gen OSU that he is gay, in an effort to stop an extortion eral Counsel’s Office of the secretary of the Navy, attempt and to abide by the “Core Values” of the and they have agreed to review these policies for U.S. Navy prescribing naval ethics. A formal in consistency. quiry ensued to consider Watson’s fitness to serve Watson is waiting to hear from the OSU pro based on his truthful statement regarding his ho vost regarding his complaint about discriminatory mosexuality. On March 1, 1995, a three-member Navy practices through its ROTC program on Board of Inquiry deliberated for 22 minutes and campus, and is considering other options should voted unanimously that Watson be “recommended that complaint fail to bring the Navy into compli for separation from the naval service by reason of ance with the university’s anti-discrimination poli homosexual conduct.” The board recommended cies. an honorable discharge. Watson would like nothing more than to be Although Watson is being honorably dis allowed to continue to serve in the Navy and fulfill charged, his severance pay has been cut in half his lifelong goal to someday command a nuclear- because the basis of his involuntary separation is powered submarine. homosexuality. Current Navy policy lists homo- O r «TTÌT$ V '*11 « .W. & , by T en Ventura ‘ plus air and port charges Wayne Boulette A Northwest man is forced into activism by his discharge from the Navy under the “don’t ask don’t tell”policy ▼ Cruise out of L.A. to Catalina Island, Ensenada and back to L.A. Departure evey Monday— 3 nights also available— from $349 ppdo* Our leisure experts will help you plan your vacation, Christmas Vacation, Wedding and more! GIVE US A CALL! news We’re here for you!! The Washington County Health Department offers daily HIV testing and counseling, by appointment and walk-in, in two convenient locations: 155 North 1st Hillsboro 12550 SW 2nd Beaverton Other services include STD exams and treatment and a Wellness Program for individuals who are HIV positive. Call 648-8851 for an appointment Pride of the Rose Scholarship applications available The Pride of the Rose Scholarship is available to members of the lesbian and gay community and/or their children who reside in the Portland tri-county area or Clark County, Wash. Appli cants must be pursuing their education beyond the secondary level and must be in demonstrated need of financial assistance to attain their educa tional goals. The scholarship fund was founded by Rose Emperor V Frank and Rose Empress XXI Allison Grey and is administered through Equity Founda tion. The final day for submission of applications is July 31. Applications are available from: Equity Foundation, PO Box 56%, Portland, OR 97228, 220-0628; The Embers, 110 NW Broadway; and The City Nightclub, 13 NW 13th Ave. The award recipients will be announced in September during an annual benefit for the fund, time and location to be announced in the near future. The Pride of the Rose Scholarship fund has awarded $40,000 to 33 students during the past 15 years. Inga Sorensen