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 Navy Blocks Gay
Sailor's 3rd Return To Service
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 11, 2007 - 11:00 am ET
(Washington) The Navy has
moved to correct what it calls an error in the discharge papers of an openly gay
sailor that could have led to his being called up again - for a third time.
The military paper Stars and
Stripes reported Monday that the Navy has issued Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason
Knight wit a new set of discharge papers spelling out that he was dropped by the
military for violating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" the ban on gays from
serving openly.
Knight was first discharged in
2005 under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but his official discharge papers
did not specify it.
He was then called up again last
year and again dismissed under DADT this year.
Again his discharge papers did
not mention DADT. Instead, the papers said "completion of required active
service."
His recall code was noted as
RE-1, with a reserve obligation ending in April 2009. That meant that Knight, a
trained Hebrew linguist, was being placed in the reserves and could be recalled
at any time. (story)
“I can’t do anything but
laugh,” Knight told Stars and Stripes last week in a telephone interview.
“It’s getting to the point of being ridiculous,” he said.
After the paper last raised
questions about the discrepancy the Navy said it would investigate.
The Navy said it has now issued
its third set of discharge papers, although Knight says he has not yet received
them, citing homosexuality has the reason for his discharge.
The change effectively means
Knight will not be recalled.
"Neither Jason’s command, nor his
colleagues, had any issues with his sexual orientation," Steve Ralls, a
spokesperson for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network told 365Gay.com.
"Indeed, there are few
people on the ground or in the warzone who care more about
orientation than qualification."
Knight is now on a speaking
tour for SLDN drumming up support for overturning DADT.
Two lawsuits challenging DADT are
underway. One, by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is underway in
federal court in Boston and a second, by Log Cabin Republicans, is before a
federal court in California. (story)
In February,
Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), chair of the House Armed Services Sub-Committee
on Oversight and Investigations, reintroduced legislation to repeal the law. (story)
The Democratic contenders for the
presidency all oppose Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Republican candidates
favor keeping it.
"Petty Officer Knight’s
case clearly shows that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is not
only out of step with our nation’s commitment to equal
opportunity, but is out of touch with what military leaders
increasingly believe is in the best interest of our armed
forces," said Ralls.
"Our country cannot afford
the continued loss of talented troops who happen to be lesbian
or gay," Ralls said.
©365Gay.com 2007
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