49 lines
1.9 KiB
Plaintext
49 lines
1.9 KiB
Plaintext
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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MAY 5, 1989
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APPEALS COURT ORDERS REINSTATEMENT OF GAY SOLDIER
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the
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reinstatement of Sgt. Perry Watkins, an openly gay soldier with
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an examplary service record, in a case brought by the ACLU nine
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years ago to challenge the military's policy of excluding gay and
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lesbian persons.
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The decision of the full court sidestepped the question of
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the constitutionality of the policy but ruled that the Army could
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not enforce the policy against Sgt. Watkins, since it had allowed
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him to re-enlist three times over a 14-year period despite
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knowledge of his homosexuality.
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"We are extremely pleased by this decision," said Nan D.
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Hunter, Director of the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project.
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"It is not only a complete victory for Perry Watkins, it is also
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a total repudiation of the rationale for the Army's exclusionary
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policy."
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Hunter explained that in ruling to force the Army to re-
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enlist Watkins, the court found that he was a highly "respected
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and trusted" soldier, and ruled that his military service
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"greatly benefitted the Army and therefore the country."
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"This finding shatters the stereotype that gay soldiers
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cannot work effectively with other soldiers, or that simply
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having them in the armed services will have a harmful effect on
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morale and discipline," said Hunter.
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"Although the court did not reach the broader issue, it did
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specifically rule that reinstating this openly gay soldier would
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have no harmful effect on the military mission, and that ruling
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completely undercuts the Pentagon's position that homosexuality
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is incompatible with military service," added Hunter.
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Watkins has been represented throughout the lawsuit by ACLU
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cooperating attorney James Lobsenz of Seattle.
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For more information, contact:
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Nan D. Hunter - (212) 944-9800, ext. 545
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James Lobsenz - (206) 467-9088
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