Lesbians disproportionately discharged under DADT
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Pentagon officials won’t speculate why women in uniform are more likely to be discharged from the armed services under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but critics of the policy say that new figures reflect deep-seated sexism in the armed forces.
Government statistics show that more than 619 men and women were discharged last year because of their sexual orientation. Of those, one-third were women, even though they account for 15 percent of all active-duty and reserve members.
Pentagon spokesperson Cynthia Smith said officials will not look into the matter because even inquiring about it might violate the 1993 ban on openly gay servicemembers.
Ministers protest gay marriage ban
Virginia’s DailyPress.com reports two ministers at a Norfolk Unitarian Church will protest Virginia’s constitutional ban on gay marriage by refusing to sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples.
The Revs. Phyllis L. Hubbell and John P. Manwell said they will continue to officiate at wedding ceremonies, but will not sign marriage licenses.
In Virginia, only heterosexual couples can get a marriage license validating their legal status as spouses.
The couple said the protest is worth the inconvenience for heterosexuals they wed.
Cop on leave for targeting gays
The Chicago Tribune reports a Chicago police officer is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into allegations that he made false DUI arrests and harassed gay and lesbian drivers.
Chicago police say Officer Richard Fiorito is on desk duty pending the investigation.
Attorney Jon Erickson has filed federal civil-rights lawsuits against Fiorito on behalf of about two-dozen people.
The suits allege he made up DUI charges and other violations so he could get overtime pay for court appearances.
Fiorito was assigned to a neighborhood on the city’s North Side with a high concentration of gay bars and restaurants.
Fiorito’s attorney has said the arrests were valid.
— Larry Nichols