THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996               TAG: 9603280412
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION, WASH.  LENGTH: Short :   43 lines

GAY SAILOR ANNOUNCES END TO CAREER

A gay sailor who made history by being reinstated after the Navy discharged him for being gay announced his retirement Wednesday.

``The decision was difficult for me,'' said Petty Officer Keith Meinhold, a 15-year veteran. ``Emotionally in my heart I really wanted to stay in the Navy, but my head tells me . . . it's time to start a second career.''

Meinhold, 33, said he will begin a nationwide speaking tour next month for the Servicemembers' Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit organization that supports gay and lesbian military personnel.

The Navy honored Meinhold at an hourlong ceremony Wednesday attended by his squadron and about 40 guests, base spokesman Howard Thomas said.

Meinhold said his decision wasn't related to being a gay sailor.

``I've been in for three years after making my statement,'' Meinhold said. ``I don't see what another four, five years would prove, since my case was resolved.''

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Navy last August to reinstate Meinhold, who served as an air warfare specialist crewman on the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft.

The Navy lost two court decisions in its efforts to oust Meinhold, who, in 1992, admitted on national television that he is gay. He was discharged under military regulations that treated declarations of homosexuality as grounds for discharge.

The 9th Circuit concluded that the Pentagon policy was not an absolute ban and would allow a homosexual to remain in the service if the person showed he or she had no propensity to engage in homosexual conduct.

Under the new policy of ``don't ask, don't tell,'' instituted after President Clinton took office in 1993, service members who declare their homosexuality still face discharge unless they can prove they won't engage in homosexual acts while in the service. by CNB