Another day, another gay or lesbian servicemember is discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Reversing an earlier decision, the United States Air Force will separate lesbian Lt. Robin R. Chaurasiya who was allowed to remain in uniform despite declaring her sexuality. In February, an Air Force general ruled Chaurasiya should not be discharged because she declared her sexual to avoiding military service.
Chaurasiya left active duty in 2007 after serving one year. She was
recalled to active duty in 2009 because of Iraq and Afghanistan. That's when she was outed, reports the Los Angeles Times.
"Chaurasiya's case began in July after a male former officer she once dated had provided her commanding officer with evidence that she was a lesbian. The Air Force dismissed that complaint. But afterward, Chaurasiya, feeling slighted, decided to declare that she was a lesbian. In December, she and her partner were joined in a civil union in New Hampshire. A subsequent Air Force investigation found credible evidence she was a lesbian, but determined she had declared her sexual orientation in an attempt to get out of military service. The general in charge refused to remove her. The Air Force on Monday suggested the decision to discharge her resulted from new evidence. Chaurasiya said her partner was interviewed to determine if their civil union was real. Chaurasiya said she does not regret publicizing her situation. "Part of repealing the policy is demonstrating how arbitrarily it is implemented," she said. "As long as we are raising awareness about problems in the policy, it was worth it."
You may recall that earlier this year another lesbian Air Force officer, Sgt. Jene Newsome, was also forcibly outed by a third party.
in related news: Today SLDN launches "Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama", a new media campaign to pressure the White House, House and Senate to exercise leadership and include DADT repeal in the Defense Authorization Bill.
I LOATH the fact that this case and the one a while back have targed women of color who are lesbians.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 26 April 2010 at 14:01