Air Force lesbian nurse discharged, 19 years service

[underbear1]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/04/041306military.htm

'Tip' Leads To Lesbian Air Force Nurse's DADT Discharge


(Seattle, Washington) For 19 years Major Margaret Witt served the Air Force with distinction. She served in the Persian Gulf, received medals, and was featured in a recruitment flyer for the Air Force Nurse Corps.
But after commanders received an anonymous tip in 2004 that she is a lesbian and in a long-term relationship the military began an investigation that led to her discharge under 'don't ask, don't tell' the military's ban on gays serving openly.

This week Witt began a lawsuit to get back her job. The suit, filed on by the ACLU on her behalf, charges the military acted unconstitutionally and seeks an injunction reversing the discharge.

'Don't ask, don't tell' requires that a commander receive "credible evidence" that a service member is lesbian or gay before beginning an investigation.

"Unfortunately, however, the definition of 'credible evidence' is determined by the command," Steve Ralls, a spokesperson for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network told 365Gay.com.

"SLDN has represented numerous service members who were investigated based on questionable information, including anonymous emails and accusations made by individuals who were clearly untrustworthy," Ralls said.

"'Don't ask, don't tell' has become an effective weapon in the armed forces, where rumor, innuendo and hearsay can mean the end of an otherwise promising career.

Witt joined the Air Force in 1986. She served in the Persian Gulf and in 2003 was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal for her action in saving the life of a Department of Defense employee who had collapsed aboard a government-chartered flight from Bahrain.

In 1993, she was selected to be the “poster child” for the Air Force Nurse Corps recruitment flyer.

Most recently she was a flight nurse and operating room nurse assigned to McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington.

It was while at McChord that her commanding officer began an investigation into her private life after receiving "a tip" from an unidentified source that Witt was in a relationship with another woman, a fact she does not deny.

In November 2004, Major Witt was placed on unpaid leave and told she could no longer participate in any military duties, pending formal separation proceedings. In March 2006, the Air Force informed Major Witt that she was being administratively discharged on grounds of homosexual conduct.

“I joined the Air Force because I wanted to serve my country. I have loved being in the military – my fellow airmen have been my family. I am proud of my career and want to continue doing my job,” said Witt. “Wounded people never asked me about my sexual orientation. They were just glad to see me there,” she added.

“Major Margaret Witt has been an exemplary member of the military with a distinguished record of service. To discharge her simply because of her sexual orientation is unfair and does not make our military stronger,” said ACLU of Washington Executive Director Kathleen Taylor.

In a previous ACLU case, Lobsenz represented Army Sgt. Perry Watkins, who challenged his dismissal from the military for being gay. In 1989, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that, as a matter of fairness, the Army could not discharge Watkins.

Twelve lesbian and gay former members of the military are involved in a federal suit in Boston seeking reinstatement. Represented by SLDN oral arguments were held last July and a decision is pending.

[jose]

If she was doing her job well how does it benefit the Army to lose her because of her preferences for sexual fun, she wasn´t hitting on all her co-workers was she


¨lesbian gets a discharge¨ flagyl will clear that up

[PatrickHenry]

I wonder if the military allows her any retirement pay? Some of this may be about the money... snaking out of paying an employee's retirement benefits.

[Osborn F Enready]

Yet more mistreatment from the "liberty and justice for all" nation.

[underbear1]

When the military drums a queer out, they LOSE ALL BENEFITS. Those bastards take 19 years exemplary service, even use her image to enlist other womyn, then F*CK HER........DRY!

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: underbear1 When the military drums a queer out, they LOSE ALL BENEFITS.

Got a reference on that?

[rez]

Bill Hicks said it the best. "I dont care if your gay, just get in that fox hole and start killing people"

*Military pundit voice* I don't want to be hanging around any gay people while im killing little brown people.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Such a backward approach. Gee underbear1 this is very sad reflection on the military mind

[underbear1]

You get a dishonorable discharge if you are drummed out for being gay/lesbian = ZERO BENEFITS.
Here's just a minimal change to Don't Ask Don't Tell. If after 5 years exempalary service, no matter what is later revealed about your sex life isn't grounds for discharge.That gives the military snoops and all the gossip mongers who post shit anonomously 5 years to do their damnedest, but someone hasn't devoted the better part of their working career in military service at that point. For Chrissakes,
allowing someone to be totally commited to the military for 19 years and THEN RIPPING THEM OFF, is just beyond the pale.

[PatrickHenry]

Sounds like life in America to me, underbear...

Wage slavery, racial discrimination, sexism, a Republican government...

[underbear1]

Major Margaret Witt,

The government USED you to enlist other women, now turn the tables on those bastards, you will be physically attractive to other lesbians, and they will admire your life, go on speaking tours of EVERY campus with ROTC and lecture women to NOT ENLIST!

btw. the Pentagon just admitted they were SPYING on gay/lesbian protestors against Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It was on Raw Story and I posted it on my regular forum political switchboard.

http://politicalswitchboard.invision...=0&#entry51536

[bugsbunny04]

At MEPS you have to read this little scare sheet. It tells you that if they find out any of the following later, you will receive at the least an Other than honorable dischard, and at most a dishonorable discharge and some years in prison:

you lied about your identity
you lied about your medical history (asthma, heart murmor, etc)
you lied about your criminal history (felony convictions, drug use)
you lied about your finances
you lied about how many dependents you have or child support owed
you are a homosexual homosexual

You also have to sign more than one form that says you have not lied about any of the stuff that they asked you about, and that even though they have not and will not ask you about your sexual orientation, if they find out you are a homosexual later, you are going to be in a world of shit.

She knew from the day she enlisted if they ever found out she was done.

[underbear1]

"She knew from the day she enlisted if they ever found out she was done."

Fine just straight people die in these F*CKIN wars you folks start, and while you are stationed overseas we'll be sure to take care of your wife and brothers while you are gone.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: bugsbunny04 At MEPS you have to read this little scare sheet. It tells you that if they find out any of the following later, you will receive at the least an Other than honorable dischard, and at most a dishonorable discharge and some years in prison: you lied about your identity you lied about your medical history (asthma, heart murmor, etc) you lied about your criminal history (felony convictions, drug use) you lied about your finances you lied about how many dependents you have or child support owed you are a homosexual homosexual You also have to sign more than one form that says you have not lied about any of the stuff that they asked you about, and that even though they have not and will not ask you about your sexual orientation, if they find out you are a homosexual later, you are going to be in a world of shit. She knew from the day she enlisted if they ever found out she was done.

Things sure have changed since World War II, where enlistees were lying about their age, health and any number ot OTHER things just to join the Army.

[PatrickHenry]

Dang, bugs!
Maybe she wasn't a lesbian when she enlisted...ever think of that?

[bugsbunny04]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Dang, bugs! Maybe she wasn't a lesbian when she enlisted...ever think of that?

But of course, you know what they say, "they cant help it, they were BORN that way"

I have not encountered very many people who were totally gay. Met a few bi people, but only a couple of people who were GAY, as in, people of the opposite gender registered no response at all. Of the bi people, being attracted to the same sex came at the same time as puberty and being attracted to the opposite. The ones that were GAY said the same thing. This is just a small sample of the population, but gives me reason to beleive she was a lesbian LONG before she enlisted.

Quote by: Scribbler1 Things sure have changed since World War II, where enlistees were lying about their age, health and any number ot OTHER things just to join the Army.

Well, lying about your age is kind of difficult, because it kind of goes with your identity. They arent stupid. If you are lying about who you are or how old you are, they will likely figure it out before the end of your processing.

People still lie about their health. They do what they can to prevent it, but it happens. Occasionally you hear about someone dying at basic, or almost dying at basic, or having a psychotic episode because they are off their meds at basic, etc. It happens.

People lie about everything, almost everybody either lies about, or actually fails to recall at the particular moment they are asked, about SOMETHING. Most of it is trivial BS, and when discovered, its something like "You know that breaking you toe when you were 8 wasnt a DQ, you shouldnt have lied about, jack ass. Front leaning rest position!"

Quote by: underbear1 "She knew from the day she enlisted if they ever found out she was done." Fine just straight people die in these F*CKIN wars you folks start, and while you are stationed overseas we'll be sure to take care of your wife and brothers while you are gone.

You are missing the point. SHE KNEW WHAT SHE DID WAS A FELONY! Whether the law is just or not, she knew she was breaking it, and that if she got caught she knew there would be consequences. Its kind of like if I were to convert my AK to full auto. There isnt really anything wrong with doing it. It wouldnt make it anymore a menace to society. In fact, I can kill a lot more people with discriminatory semi auto fire than I ever would be able to do sprayin and prayin (I point to the LA bank robbery in 1996, the two clowns with machine guns fire over 2K rounds and didnt kill anybody). But the simple fact is, if I were to do that, and the Ban All The Fun brigade came in my house, I would be going to federal prison for a long time. And I wouldnt do something so stupid, since I get to play with far cooler toys at work and Im not a dumb ass.

[underbear1]

No, you are missing the point, this country NEEDS OUR talents especially our linguists. The military already admits they aren't drumming out gays/lesbians serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They'll let those poor misguided patriotic queers be body-bag fillers, and if they happen to get home unscathed, they can always shit-can them later. We (LGBT) didn't begin these wars, we have no consequence whether Iraq goes into civil war or the taliban retake Afghanistan. So y'all have fun over there.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...ing_more_gays/

Home > News > Nation

Military retaining more gays
Lawyers see growing acceptance in ranks
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | March 19, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The US military allowed at least 36 gay soldiers last year to stay in uniform, despite efforts by their commanders or fellow soldiers to have them discharged under the ''don't ask, don't tell" policy, according to a review of hundreds of cases in which soldiers sought to remain in uniform without denying their homosexuality.

The Pentagon declined to explain why more gay soldiers were being retained, but the lawyers who represent soldiers challenging cases under the policy say the Pentagon seems to have softened its stance on homosexuality.

The lawyers attributed the change both to a growing acceptance of gays within the ranks and to the military's need to keep more highly trained soldiers in the Iraq War.

''As the country has changed, so have the people in the military," said Sharra Greer, director of law and policy at the nonprofit Service Members' Legal Defense Network, which represents gay soldiers challenging their dismissals. ''More commanders are not enforcing [don't ask, don't tell] strictly."

In several of the cases over the past year, service members who were found to have listed their homosexuality on Internet dating sites were reprimanded but returned to duty, according to the case files. In other cases, senior officers were swayed by a service member's strong performance reviews.

''The equations for commands have shifted," Greer said. ''They are under enormous pressure to retain people. They do a cost-benefit analysis and we are hearing the same thing: 'I really don't care if you are gay and I am not going to kick you out.' "'

Recent studies have shown that many soldiers dismissed in past years under ''don't ask, don't tell" tended to be in highly trained specialties now in demand, including linguists and medical technicians.

Meanwhile, observers have noted that the Defense Department has recently softened its position on the ''don't ask, don't tell" policy.

For many years the Pentagon's public position was that the policy was crucial to maintaining ''good order and discipline" and that having gay soldiers serve openly in the ranks would harm unit cohesion.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/091305military.htm
Commanders Ordered Not To Fire Gays Until War's End
Santa Barbara, California) Scholars studying military personnel policy have discovered a document halting the discharge of gay soldiers in units that are about to be mobilized.

The document was made public Tuesday by Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military (CSSMM), a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It was found during research for a story for the ABC news program Nightline.

The regulation was contained in a 1999 "Reserve Component Unit Commander's Handbook" and is still in effect, according to the Center.

It states that if a discharge for homosexual conduct is requested "prior to the unit's receipt of alert notification, discharge isn't authorized. Member will enter AD [active duty] with the unit."

The document is significant because of longstanding Pentagon denials that the military requires gays to serve during wartime, only to fire them once peacetime returns. According to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, gays and lesbians must be discharged whether or not the country is at war.

Gay soldiers and legal groups have reported for years that known gays are sent into combat, and then discharged when the conflicts end . Discharge statistics corroborate a pattern of rising expulsions during peacetime and plummeting rates during military conflicts, and Pentagon statistics confirm that, as has been the case in every war since World War II, gay discharges have declined during the current conflict in the Middle East.

[Mr.Vicchio]

IT's the rules as they are. If you don't serve, haven't served, you don't understand what's up. Take your touchy feely Social experiement BS and save it for somewhere else. Period.

You can cite all the whatever you want too, when it boils down to it, you are talking "feelings" when this is about lives. As in on the battlefield, there is enough BS as there is, leave be what you DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

[Matt W]

Actually, Mr.V, armed forces all across the globe are comfortable with lesbians & gays being 'out' - but not America. Hardly a social experiment anymore. If you haven't tried it, then I would venture to say it's not the lesbians & gays who have the comprehension problem....

[rcne]

I think the honorable thing to do would be to let her finish her 20 years then retire with an Honorable discharge.

For this to surface now after 19 years seems as if one side or the other is making a statement. I'll watch as the story unfolds to see just what the details are.