Activists protest military ban on gays [View All]

[Kadie]

Activists protest military ban on gays
By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - On paper, Haven Herrin seems to be an ideal candidate for military recruiters.

She can easily run five miles and was valedictorian of her college class. "Frankly, I'm exactly the kind of person the military says it wants," she said.

But when Herrin tried recently to sign up for the Minnesota National Guard, she was turned down because she told the recruiter she is a lesbian — a revelation that tripped the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay service members.

Her admission was the opening round of a nationwide campaign against the 13-year-old policy by a group of young activists. In the next few months, gay men and women in their late teens and early 20s will attempt to enlist at recruiting offices in 30 cities. They will also disclose their sexual orientation.

If they are rebuffed, the activists plan to stage sit-ins at the offices, hoping to attract media coverage and support from a public they believe increasingly opposes the ban.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060811/ap_on_re_us/gay_recruits_2