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A Publication of The Atlanta Gay Center
Volume IV, Number 11 7rte Volunteer Voice of the Gay Community
July 29, 1988
Gay Demos demo, KKK is kwashed
Counterdemonstrators express their feelings toward white
supremacists gathered at the State Capitol prior to their
aborted march and rally during the Convention.
Sgt. Perry Watkins: Profile in courage
Over 1,000 demonstrators turned out
for a rally at the free speech site during the
Democratic National Convention last
week to call for expanded civil rights
protections for lesbians and gay men.
Sponsored by LEGAL, the Georgia gay and
lesbian Democratic caucus, the event
followed a clash between white
supremacists and counter - demonstrators
which caught authorities off guard.
Demonstrators heard a variety of
speakers calling for an end to
discrimination and violence against gay
men and lesbians and for increased
funding in the fight against AIDS.
Emceed by Gwendolyn Craig, a native
Atlantan who has lived in San Francisco
for more than a decade, the rally included
local luminaries such as Fulton County
Commission Chair and Mayoral candidate
Michael Lomax; national political leaders
including Senator Alan Cranston of
California and Congressman Ted Weiss of
New Vork; and front line soldiers in the
fight for gay rights such as former Army
Staff Sergeant Perry Watkins (see story
below). Noticeably absent was Mayor
Andrew Young, who sent one of his
staffers, Connie Curry to represent him.
The Mayor has never accepted an
invitation to appear at any gay/lesbian
event.
The day had begun with a near riot
when hundreds of anti - Klan counter -
demonstrators converged on the State
Capitol vowing to stop a ragtag
assortment of white supremacists from
rallying and marching to the free speech
site near the Omni. The handful of officers
present was unable to quell the anger of a
mixed bag of protesters, some of whom
seemed intent upon inciting violence.
Said one young anti - Klan demonstrator
ip apparent frustration, 'What does it take
to start a riot in this town?"
With violence escalating and the
situation clearly out of control, Public
Safety Commissioner George Napper
apparently recognized his miscalculation
and cancelled the supremacists permit to
march and rally. In the ensuing hours
dozens of riot helmeted police skirmished
with counter - demonstrators in an
attempt to keep the two groups apart.
Advancing behind a phalanx of plexiglas
shields, the officers chanted "Move! Move!
Move!" as the crowd was pressed back.
The two dozen or so white supremacists
finally gave up and were escorted away
from the area by police. No serious
injuries were reported on either side.
see Demos pg. 9
promotion would set a course of
outstanding service that Mr. Watkins
would provide to the U.S. Army during his
entire 15 years of military service.
Interestingly enough, this fact, of
exemplary military service, has never been
disputed by the U.S. Army.
It was during the first Six months of
duty that Mr. Watkins requested
immediate discharge on the grounds of his
own admitted homosexuality. The first
two requests were based on the fact that
the Army established a very clear double
standard with regard to his
homosexuality. The third was based on an
entirely different set of circumstances.
After an attempted rape by five other
enlisted members of his unit in his
barracks at Ft. Belvoir, VA, Private
Watkins immediately reported the
incident to his Commanding Officer. After
allowing the Army sufficient time, and
seeing no disciplinary action being
brought against the five perpetrators of
the assault, Private Perry Watkins came to
the following conviction: that he would
no longer tolerate any form of harassment
or discrimination based on his sexual
orientation. It is this precise conviction,
to this day, that motivates Perry Watkins
in his battle against the United States
Army. Needless to say, all three requests
were denied.
During his first two years PVT Watkins
served as a Personnel Management
Specialist at Fort Belvoir and as a
Chaplain’s Assistant and Unit Clerk in
Camp Rose, South Korea. By receiving
promotion to the rank of Specialist Five in
a period of 18 months, Perry again showed
exemplary service and commitment to
duty. After fulfilling his two year
mandatory service obligation, Perry
Watkins was separated from the U.S. Army
and returned to civilian life.
Mr. Watkins remained a civilian for
approximately one year, during which
time he had the opportunity to review his
experiences, challenges and the
opportunities offered by the military.
.After careful consideration, Perry decided
to return to active duty with the U.S.
see Watkins pg. 9
Former Army Staff Sergeant
Perry Watkins carries on his
battle against the
homophobic policies of the
U.S. military.
by Evan Lozon
On August 28, 1967, Perry J. Watkins
reported to the U.S. Army 10th General
Despensary, in Frankfurt, Germany, to
complete an Army pre - induction
physical. At this time, Perry checked yes
in response to the question "Have you ever
had or have you now, Homosexual
Tendencies?"
In response to this answer, the Army
required that Mr. Watkins undergo a
psychiatric evaluation. During this
interview Mr. Watkins was questioned in
regard to his homosexuality, which he
reaffirmed, and he was also bluntly asked
if he objected to going to Viet Nam, to
which his response was, no. On the basis
of this information the Army determined
that Mr. Watkins was qualified for military
service. Interesting enough, the Army
hits never disputed the fact that Perry was
qualified for induction in 1967.
Perry Watkins began his military career
on 18 May 1968. Graduating from basic
training in July 1968, Perry was selected
as one of a handful of people receiving
accelerated promotion to Private E2. This