_ N W
. & l
”5““ AH I995
SERVICES I
l
ORGANIZATION A PUBLICATION OF THE LEXINGTON GAY AND LESBIAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION l
SEXUAL ORIENTATION DON’T GET HOUSE MEMBERS BLAST

NOT A FACTOR 1N DIS C OUR AGED! GINGRICH FOR EFFORT To

SEcuRITY CLEARANCES, Contributed b RESTORE BAN 0N GAYS IN
y Reverend Ruth THE MILITARY
GAO FINDS Fiscella of P-PLAG . .

Washington, DC (AP): Federal The winter months have been Bipartisan Group Speaks OUt at
agencies appear to have ended their lean for attendance at P-P-FLAG. HRCF Press Conference
practice of using homosexuality as a Who knows, but what if P-FLAG .Washmgton, D-C-3 The House
basis for denying security has helped the many people who NatIonal Security Committee today
clearances, a congressional report have come to us and there aren’t blasted House Speaker Newt
says. The agencies for years had any more left? Idoubt that! Have GInngch for advocatIng that the
denied clearances to homosexuals on you sent your parents to us or to a Republl’can congress restore the
the assumption that all gay people chapter we can locate for you all military 5 Old policy against lesbian
are at risk of being blackmailed. over the use and .gay servrce . members.

In a report released Friday, the NevertheleSS, our organiza- RepublIcan and Democratic members
General Accounting Office said it tion remains strong and goes ofthe House committee that oversees
“judgementally” reviewed records forward. We have continued our the armed forceslomed a CapItol HIll
for civilians and contractors from individual crusades. One thing I press conference today called by the
eight agencies: the departments of have done is to write letters. Human ngl’ltS. (Eampaign Fund
Defense, Energy and State; the Perhaps you saw my letter [0 the (HRCF), the-natIons largest lesbian
Office of Personnel Management; editor in the Lexington paper on and gay POthal organization,
the US. Information Agency; the March 29_ Then, I also wrote a Appearing at today 5 press
FBI; the Secret Service, and the US. letter to every one of the nine conference were Rep. Marty Meehan
Customs Service. organizations listed in last (ID-Mass), who hosted the event m

All eight told the GAO, which is month’s GLSO News under his Congressional office, and Reps.
the investigative arm of Congress, “Know Thy Enemies” asking them Peter TorkIldsen (R:Mass.), Gerry i
that homosexuality is not a criterion why they hate and persecute my ., ,. l
in considering the .granting. 0f daughter and insisting on a reply. ,II'TISIIIT)E WAY:
securIty clearances. SIX of the eight I will sadly have to miss all Of 'Community News 3 ‘
agencies have written policies and Pride Month here, as I return to Rediscovering Our History l
Procedures that PTOhibit direct New York State for a wedding on Part II of]! by Kay Maxwell .....5
questions on an applicant’s sexual June 3 and will stay there for the .Coming Out in the Mental Health A
orientation. The other two - Defense summer, but I hope you will Profession by Sue Strong ..........II
and the Secret Service - said sexual attend our P-FLAG Reunion on For preliminaries ofjune’s PRIDE
orientation is not a criterion but that June 15 at Chapel Hill Church. p- MONTH FESTIVITIES, 566

continued on page 2 FLAG needs your supportlv Communlty News I