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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993                   TAG: 9305280151
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CLINTON NEAR COMPROMISE ON GAYS IN MILITARY

His remarks, which dismayed some gay leaders, signaled a retreat from his earlier pledge to lift the ban entirely by July 15. Instead, Clinton said he was willing to settle for a proposal that would allow homosexuals to serve so long as they kept their sexual orientation secret while on duty.

"I think we're very close to a compromise along those lines," Clinton said during a Rose Garden appearance on CBS. "We are trying to work this out so that our country does not appear to be endorsing a gay lifestyle, but we accept people as people and give them a chance to serve if they play by the rules."

Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia and Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts are the two key congressional Democrats pushing such a compromise: Nunn, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, opposes lifting the ban, but has said he could support letting gays serve so long as they remained closeted both on and off duty.

Frank, one of two openly gay congressmen, said last week that gays should keep their sexual orientation private while on duty, but a homosexual lifestyle away from work should not be grounds for discharge.

"The president's remarks are not helpful," said David Smith of the Campaign for Military Service, a gay advocacy group that wants the ban removed. "The compromises being discussed sustain an atmosphere of prejudice, and we oppose them."

Although Bob Hall, the Pentagon's official spokesman, declined to comment on Clinton's remarks, other defense officials said the military was drafting a compromise likely to be less restrictive than Nunn's but not as liberal as Frank's.

Even if a compromise is struck, Clinton hinted at the next hurdle looming on the horizon as he seeks to implement the controversial policy change.

"My view is, people should be judged on their conduct," Clinton said. "I have not called for any change in the uniform code of conduct."

Yet, since 1950, the Uniform Code of Military Justice has barred sodomy - anytime and anywhere, heterosexual or homosexual - by members of the military.

One Pentagon official, who declined to be identified, said the code "would be severely weakened" if it remained unchanged and gays were allowed to serve in the military. "The only way they can comply with the UCMJ is to stay celibate," this Air Force officer said.

Gay advocates argue that the military ignores consensual heterosexual sodomy, and suggest it should take the same approach regarding homosexual sodomy.