THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140328
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Two naval officers who have served in Hampton Roads are among an estimated 15 openly gay men serving in the military. The status of their cases:
Lt. j.g. Dirk Selland, a supply officer at Norfolk Naval Base, is awaiting a ruling from Navy Secretary John Dalton on whether he should be allowed to continue serving. A Navy board of inquiry recommended last July that he be discharged for violating the Pentagon's ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays. Selland, a former submariner, had told his commanding officer he was a homosexual the day after President Clinton was inaugurated. He was due to be released from the Navy on April 1 of this year because he had not been selected for promotion to lieutenant. However, that release is on hold, pending Dalton's action on the board's recommendation.
Lt. Tracy Thorne, the former Oceana-based flier who went on national television to announce his sexuality, also is awaiting a final ruling from Dalton.
Thorne, an A-6 bombardier-navigator, was recommended for discharge last July for violating ``don't ask, don't tell''. He recently was awarded the Navy Achievement medal in a ceremony at the Naval Air Systems Command in Arlington, his last active-duty posting. A reservist, Thorne now lives in Richmond. MEMO: Related stories on page A1.
KEYWORDS: HOMOSEXUAL MILITARY PERSONNEL U.S.NAVY by CNB