Bisexual man fighting Navy discharge speaks in Philly
Adapted from reporting PGN staff
Vernon E. Berg III, fighting a Navy discharge due to his bisexuality, spoke for more than an hour following services at the Metropolitan Community Church here in February 1976.
Berg said the trouble started the previous summer when the Naval Intelligence Service began investigating his sex life. Initially, Berg resigned. But when he read about Leonard Matlovich, who was challenging his discharge from the Air Force for being gay, Berg also decided to fight.
“I made the only decision I could make,” he told the congregation, adding he could not see “how my private sex life could have any bearing on my public life as a naval officer.”
Berg participated in a weeklong hearing in late January 1976 to fight his “less than honorable” discharge. He said that while he has had sex with both men and women, none was armed-forces personnel. In particular, Berg denied accusations from Journalist 2nd Class Laurent Crofwell that he had made advances toward him while they were both stationed in Italy.
The Navy upgraded Berg’s discharge to “honorable” in 1977. He was not reinstated, as he wanted.
Berg’s lawsuit is credited with ending the military’s practice of giving gay people “less than honorable” discharges. He died Jan. 27, 1999, in New York of complications of AIDS. Berg was 47.
Two more gay candidates to run for Philly posts
Adapted from reporting PGN staff
Two more openly gay men filed to run for places on the Democratic committee in the April 27, 1976, primary, which brought the number of out people in the race to four.
Jack Friel, one of the owners of the Hasty Tasty Restaurant and Deli on South 12th Street, and George Hodges, owner of Georgetown Market on Pine Street, filed in the Fifth and Eighth wards, respectively.
Jeff Britton and Harry Langhorne, politics reporter for PGN, also filed papers in February 1976 to run in the April primary.
Friel and Hodges said they felt “encouraged” to run by growing support within the city’s Democratic Party and the increasing presence of out politicians.
— compiled by Paige Cooperstein