ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010099
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: Associated Press
After three years of legal battles, Lt. Richard Selland is leaving the Navy, but the openly gay sailor is continuing to fight for the acceptance of gays in the military.
Selland will trade in his uniform for a book bag and a class schedule when he enters law school at the University of Baltimore this fall.
But when he signed his honorable discharge papers, Selland left himself the right to continue pursuing his court fight against the military's policy on gays.
Unlike others, who challenged the policy but were relegated to menial duties, Selland feels the Navy generally has been fair.
``I've been able to stay in for 31/2 years, and that's been a success in itself,'' said Selland, 27.
Although quickly relieved as supply officer aboard a nuclear attack submarine when he revealed he was gay, Selland was allowed to serve as director of procurement at the Atlantic Fleet Industrial Supply Center, supervising a staff of 81. In return, he said, he has worked harder than ever to prove his ability and make the point that gays can serve openly and well.
``My service really eats at the core of the anti-gay policy that says unit cohesion would suffer and morale would deteriorate. The Navy gave me a lot of responsibility, and I was up to it. I look back, and I don't have any regrets.''
He remains determined to carry on his fight.
``We cannot allow the Department of Defense to force silence and celibacy on service members. If we do, what argument do we have against those who want to do the same to teachers, chaplains, police officers and others whose jobs are sensitive?''
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB