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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 11, 1992                   TAG: 9201130231
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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MILITARY ALREADY HAS HOMOSEXUALS

SOMEONE from Wytheville wrote the paper the other day to say that he wouldn't serve in the military with homosexuals. I can't believe someone would be so naive as to believe that there are no homosexuals in the armed services.

As a matter of fact, the Pentagon conducted a study in 1988 on "Nonconforming Sexual Orientations and Military Suitability" (Document PERS-TR-89-002). It states that "all available data points to the conclusion that job performance of homosexuals in the military is satisfactory," and in some tests that "the homosexual members had `above average' job performance ratings and had higher retention rates than non-homosexuals."

And, from an accompanying study on the Security Clearance Suitability of Homosexuals (Document PERS-TR-89-004): The "preponderance of the evidence indicates that homosexuals show (security-clearance) suitability-related adjustment that is as good or better than the average heterosexual."

Before the 1950s, many white soldiers would have had the very same comments about serving with black military personnel. Traditional prejudices died slowly in the Defense Department, but this prejudice will also come to an end.

The fact is that if the man from Wytheville has served in the military, gone to school, held a job, attended church or has a family, then he has unknowingly associated with homosexuals. EUGENE BLAKE ROANOKE

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