THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 22, 1997 TAG: 9702220319
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: 35 lines
A Marine who announced he was gay on national television the same day President Clinton announced his ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy was given an honorable discharge and retirement benefits to settle his lawsuit over the rule.
``I think what we've proved is that a Marine who happens to be gay can serve just as well as a Marine who's straight with no detriment to morale or lack of mission operation,'' said Sgt. Justin C. Elzie, a medical supply clerk at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville.
Elzie, who received his walking papers Thursday, said he got a $30,000 check as part of his retirement benefits.
Elzie, 34, had been accepted into an early-retirement program when he declared on ABC's ``World News Tonight'' that he is gay. His announcement came on Jan. 29, 1993, the same day that Clinton agreed to the policy on gays in the military.
That February, the Marine Corps placed Elzie on standby reserve and tried to deny him early retirement and discharge him without benefits. He sued the military in September 1993, and a month later, a federal judge ordered him restored to active duty.
Elzie's lawyer, Christopher Sipes, said the honorable discharge after 15 years of service is part of last month's settlement of the lawsuit.
``Everybody here is satisfied that the matter has been settled in a mutually agreeable manner that would avoid any further delay, expense or inconvenience for any of the parties involved,'' said 1st Lt. Charles E. Campfield, a base spokesman.
KEYWORDS: GAYS IN THE MILITARY HOMOSEXUAL SETTLEMENT
LAWSUIT