Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Gay ban backed in ranks Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 16:10:35 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Gay ban backed in ranks \SH Clinton is urged to retain policy \BY Joyce Price \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Military and veterans groups are uniting with conservative, evangelical and pro-family organizations to fight President-elect Bill Clinton's plan to lift the military's ban on homosexuals. Leaders of the Traditional Values Coalition and the National Association of Evangelicals discussed the issue yesterday with representatives of military groups and several Republican congressional staffers. They plan a much bigger meeting next month. Retired Maj. Gen. Milnor Roberts, former chief of the Army Reserve, who heads Americans for the High Frontier, a pro-SDI organization, said the group decided to call a larger meeting on Dec. 1 to help identify opposition to lifting the ban. Gen. Roberts said leaders of about 50 groups, representing well over 6 million people, will be invited to the meeting. Retired Adm. Phil Smith of the Naval Reserve Association predicted a strong turnout at the meeting, "based on the conversations" he's hearing. Andrea Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) praised the military for "being in the forefront of this issue." The TVC "has a long history of being concerned about homosexuality," she said, adding, "This is a national security issue which the military is uniquely qualified to discuss." Many military and veterans groups already formally oppose the proposed policy change. They include the American Legion, Amvets and the 24 member organizations of the Military Coalition. The coalition includes the Naval Reserve Association, the Air Force Association, the Marine Corps League, the Jewish War Veterans, the National Guard Association, the Reserve Officers Association and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association. Retired Maj. Gen. Evan L. Hultman, executive director of the 110,000-member Reserve Officers Association of the United States, sent a letter to Mr. Clinton yesterday. "The number of individuals calling us to express their concern regarding homosexuals in the military is unprecedented," Gen. Hultman wrote. "The depth of feeling expressed by the callers is also exceptional." Rear Adm. James E. Forrest, executive director of the Naval Reserve Association, said: "It doesn't make good sense to bring this type of person into the military. Everyone concurs homosexuals can do a good job. But a good military man doesn't want to have to sleep in the same room or 'hot bunk' with a homosexual." "Hot bunking" is a term that describes the practice of taking turns in bunks when there are inadequate sleeping accommodations. Allen Wildmon, associate director of the American Family Association, added: "I was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and there's not much room between bunks. I don't think President-elect Clinton has been there, nor does he want to go there." Chuck Jackson, executive vice president of the 160,000-member Non-Commissioned Officers Association, said his group passed a resolution in July supporting the Defense Department's position on the "incompatibility of homosexuality with military service." Mr. Jackson, a retired Navy master chief petty officer, is enthusiastic about the Dec. 1 meeting. "We'd support any action they want to take to take to prevent a lifting of the ban," he said. Bob Morrison, policy analyst for the Family Research Council, said his group also opposes dropping the military ban on homosexuals and has been providing pertinent research data to various military organizations opposed to the change. "I have no indication any [military or veterans] group favors this," Mr. Morrison said yesterday. Bob Knight, a policy analyst with the Family Research Council, said: "Opposition [to the Clinton proposal] is growing rapidly. Ever since Senator Sam Nunn [Georgia Democrat and chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee] openly opposed it, it's given cover for a lot of other people" to speak out who previously were silent "for fear of being branded right-wing conservatives." Mr. Morrison added: "We have a special concern for military families. [Mr. Clinton] seems to be suggesting that special housing might be arranged [for homosexual couples]. He may try to give them the equivalent of married housing and survivors' benefits." The American Legion and Amvets also have urged Mr. Clinton to reconsider and follow the advice of the nation's past and present military leaders who oppose lifting the ban. Retired Adm. William Crowe Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both Presidents Reagan and Bush and a Clinton supporter, also opposes lifting the ban on homosexuals in the armed services. "I can tell you Admiral Crowe has talked to President-elect Clinton and to members of his transition team and expressed his opinions to them," Jay Coupe, a Crowe spokesman, said yesterday. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM