_ National guard.

1992 (Canada) Ban on Homosexuals in the

military is dropped.

1993 President Clinton directs the Pentagon to stop enforcing the ban on gays and lesbians. Federal district court judge Terry Hatter Jr. rules in Los Angeles that the military ban is unconstitutional.

It is true there is a force working against the ope, introduction of gay and lesbian service in the military. This force is made up of people who would have us believe that such an intro- duction would undermine the morale of the armed forces, damaging trust between mem- bers of combat units, thereby jeopardizing com-

bat readiness, increasing the incidence of Aids

in the armed forces, and prompting devoutly religious service personnel to resign and deter prospective recruits from joining. Those who would be combatting this force believe there would be increased military efficiency and higher quality in the armed forces, saving tax dollars by eliminating costly witch-hunts for gays and lesbian services personnel, reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual harassment in the armed forces by encouraging open discussion of sexuality and bringing the U.S. military into line with the armed forces of most NATO member nations, which do not bar gays and lesbians from serv- ing.

For a long time many gay and lesbians have been serving in the armed forces “‘ giving their all’’ for the protection of their country. They, like every other soldier therein, were willing to sacrifice their lives for the defense of

their country. It is high time that these people,

like every other soldier therein, receive the treatment and respect they so greatly deserved!! They had to live their lives, in the shadows, in the fear of being outed to their superiors, know- ing at any moment they may have been sub- jected to discharge, for no other reason accept sexual orientation. The stress this hiding had to cause these persons must have had an effect on their ability to work in the army. The President of the United States, Bill Clinton, may be mov- ing down the road to giving these members of society the equal treatment they so greatly deserved. In the near future many of these people will be able to serve their country with dignity and honor knowing when they leave their service that the people they defended will be proud to welcome them back to civilian life. Like the battle for desegregation of the armed forces in 1948 by the President of the day, Harry S. Truman, the year of 1993 will go down in history as the year a young Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton did the impossible, and, by executive order, eliminated the final act of “‘open’’ prejudice from the Armed forces.

Bill Clinton: ‘The issue is not whether there should be homosexuals in the military. Everyone concedes that there are. The issue is whether the men and the women who can and have served with real distinction should be excluded from military service solely on the basis of their status. And I believe they should not.”’

Of course this executive order will only

deter military personnel from discriminating against homosexuals on the job and will not deter discrimination after these homosexuals leave their military service. As we have heard in the past few months discrimination of mili- tary personnel towards homosexuals has taken a harsher course with the murder of a homo- sexual military officer in Japan by lynch beat- ing and the physical abuse of a civilian by military personnel in January 1993 in South Carolina. There seems to be a heightened risk for homosexuals whether they are in the mili- tary or not. This heightened risk will decrease over time when more liberal executive orders are initiated. In 1948 there was a revolt after the President initiated an executive order dropping the ban on Blacks in the military. This revolt lessened over the years and a much greater tolerance was developed towards the blacks in the military. It is by this example that homo- sexuals may learn from the black issue of toler- ance. There are a few people who would have liked to keep the old military rule as it was. These people are harming society in restricting the rights of citizens who should be treated equally under the law. It will take generations of families living under this new executive order to become tolerant of the idea of open homosexuality in the military, but I believe only time will tell.

P.S. We can no longer allow our military organizations to be used to defend society from society itself. Our military organizations can- not be wasted on the moral crusades of the few. It must represent, to the world, the tolerance in society it was created to defend.

VOTE - March 29

9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Farm Centre, University Ave.

Ph: 628-6725 or 566-5871 FOR INFORMATION OR A DRIVE

Lloyd McKenna ASSEMBLYMAN

Pat Mella & | Leader of >| the PC Party

Official Agent of the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I.

\

Chester Gillan COUNCILLOR

Authorized by W. Ripley, Charlottetown