Newspaper Page Text
THE NEWS, page 9
Watkins from pg. 1
Army. In June of 1971, after careful
scrutiny of Specialist Five Watkins’
previous military record, the Army
approved his request for enlistment.
As a result of this decision, he began to
believe that his military career would not
suffer because of his admitted
homosexuality. This belief was further
substantiated by the fact that while
serving with a Pershing missile unit in
Schwaebisch Gmuend, West Germany, his
initial request for a security clearance was
denied and later granted. TheArmystated
that due to the fact that he was an
admitted homosexual, he was not a
security risk. The Army even further
strengthened his belief by approving his
reenlistment in 1974.
In October of 1975, Specialist Five
Watkins made a firm commitment to
pursue a military career. Ironically
enough, the commitment was the direct
result of a Chapter 13 discharge review
board recommendation regarding his
admitted homosexuality, a unanimous
recommendation that, "In view of the
findings, the board recommends that SP5
Perry J. Watkins be retained in the
military service because there is no
evidence suggesting that his behavior has
had either a degrading effect upon unit
performance, morale, or discipline, or
upon his own job performance." In light
of this recommendation Perry Watkins
was convinced that a military career was a
definite option available to him and made
the personal and professional
commitment to complete a military career
in the United. States Army.
In spite of the ongoing inconsistency
concerning the issue of his security
clearance, SP5 Watkins’ professionalism
and commitment to the U.S. Army was
unrelenting. This was substantiated by
the fact that the Army consistently
reinstated his clearance based on the very
rational grounds that since he was an
admitted homosexual he was not a
security risk. As further evidence of his
credibility, he received a promotion, in
October of 1979, to the rank of Staff
Sergeant (SSGT/E6). This promotion
guaranteed, in the mind of SSG Watkins,
the indisputable fact that he could
complete his military carder to retirement
and receive a pension.
This conviction was short lived with the
notification of the Army’s intent, once
again, to revoke his security clearance.
Upon returning to the United States in
April of 1980, SSG Watkins wrote a letter
of rebuttal, to which he never received a
reply. It was the beginning of 1981 that
SSG Watkins sought the assistance of the
American Civil Liberties Union, and a
volunteer attorney named James E.
Lobsenz became involved.
Under the advice of his attorney (and
due to the Army’s refusal to respond to his
inquiries), SSG Watkins filed in the
Seattle federal court to have his clearance
reinstated. After he filed suit, the Army
notified SSG Watkins that due to the
revised regulations of 1981 regarding
homosexuals in the military, they
intended to discharge him. The Army
convened a Chapter 15 discharge review
board which recommended that SSG Perry
Watkins be immediately discharged on the
grounds of admitted homosexuality.
Investigations at the time still failed to
prove commission of any homosexual acts
or conduct.
The Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the 1988 Democratic
National Convention reached agreement at the Party’s
recent gathering in Atlanta on a "gay/lesbian platform".
Calling support of the gay and lesbian community "critical
to the election of a Democratic candidate in November",
the caucus urged the nominee to accept the following
resolutions:
1. Political commitment to the issuance of an executive
order banning all forms of discrimination against lesbians
and gays in employment, housing, public
accommodations, military, government services, and
immigration.
2. Expression of lesbian and gay civil rights concerns be
included in the acceptance speech, explicitly utilizing the
words "lesbian and gay."
3. Strong vocal Presidential direction in the fight against
AIDS during the course of this convention and throughout
the campaign.
4. A clear commitment to the struggle against
homophobia and in the support of the full and equal
inclusion of lesbians and gays in the Democratic Party.
5. Recognition of lesbian and gay family issues,
including hospital visitation rights, insurance coverage
and other spousal benefits, foster care and child custody
rights.
6. Recognize the contributions of gay and lesbian
Democrats across America by having the Democratic
National Committee and candidate include presentations
of convention business by gay and lesbian Democrats.
Following this decision, SSG Watkins
and his attorney filed suit against the U.S.
Army. The federal judge who heard the
case ruled that on the grounds of
equitable estopple the Army could not
discharge SSG Watkins. The U.S. Army
• responded by complying with the ruling,
but added that they hilly intended to deny
SSG Watkins any possible reenlistment,
thereby destroying a military career,
retirement and pension.
The personal tale of Perry Watkins’
ongoing seven year judicial struggle is
indescribable. Mr. Watkins has had to
undergo invasion of privacy, humiliation
and discrimination, not only by the Army
and the courts, but also as a civilian in
search of a new career; as an individual
because of the overwhelming response of
the media; and as a human being due to
the harassment caused by unbridled
ignorance. Mr. Watkins has suffered grave
personal losses including his career, his
home and his assets. And he continues to
suffer from discrimination from
employers.
Through all of these unmeasurable
trials and tribulations, the personal
conviction that Perry J. Watkins made
back in 1968, that "I will no longer
tolerate harassment or discrimination
solely based on my sexual orientation”, is
still paramount. It is for this conviction
that Perry Watkins has taken, and will
continue to take, a vigilant stand for the
ensurance of civil rights for all gays and
lesbians. It is those precise rights that
Perry Watkins vs. the U.S. Army addresses.
The establishment of homosexuals as a
suspect class will ensure the civil rights of
all gays and lesbians in the United States
of America.
Aid
Atlanta IDS
Demos from pg. 1
At the LEGAL demonstration later in
the afternoon, Connie Curry cautioned
the crowd against a sense of triumph at
"stopping the Klan" from marching. Said
Curry, "A little bit earlier, I was appalled. I
was walking through the demonstrations.
(T)he Klan was not permitted to rally. For
some people that’s a victory, but you’ve
got to remember we have a
Constitution.... What you have to
remember is there but for the grace of God
go us, and I think that’s a very sobering
thought..."
Following Curry’s remarks, speakers
hammered away at the rally’s themes to
great enthusiasm from the crowd. Among
them was Sen. Cranston, who focussed on
the AIDS issue, calling for drastic
increases in funding for health care and
research.
"We must not be overly cautious in
battling this killer," Cranston said, "the
killer that shows no signs yet of retreat.
Our response must be just as bold as the
tragedy we will face every day as long as
AIDS is allowed to exist. AIDS won’t
retreat into history of its own accord.
AIDS will have to be defeated, and we
must be the ones to strike it down. It’s our
fight. It’s our obligation. We must do
whatever it takes to win, and that’s exactly
what we will do."
The LEGAL rally wrapped up precisely
on schedule and as demonstrators
dispersed, the next group of protesters
prepared to take the stage under the
watchful eyes of a group of "Christians"
who held up enormous banners painted
with Bible verses.
101
AIDS AWARENESS AND ACTION
WEEKEND
AUGUST 13-14, 1988
9 to 5 Saturday 1 to 5 Sunday
Georgia Mental Health Institute
1256 Briarcliff Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia
A two-day intensive workshop designed for all persons who want to
educate themselves about AIDS and learn how to volunteer at AID
Atlanta. All volunteers must complete the weekend training before
consideration for assignments.
Call AID Atlanta for registration and details: (404) 872-0600.
ATLANTA FAMILY PRACTICE
MICHAEL D. RANKIN, M.D.
MARK L. TANNER, M.D.
BOARD CERTIFIED FAMILY PRACTICE
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE
INTERNAL MEDICINE
OFFICE SURGERY
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
PSYCHIATRY
UROLOGY
DERMATOLOGY
PEDIATRICS
GYNECOLOGY
1935 HOWELL MILL ROAD
ATLANTA, GA 30318
(404)355-2000