Donley: Cases against gay, lesbian airmen will continue
Original Article at Airforcetimes
By Bruce Rolfsen – Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 19, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. — Gay and lesbian airmen who disclose their sexual orientation will be dismissed even though the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law is under review by the Pentagon, according to the service’s top civilian leader.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley made the proclamation to reporters after he mentioned the review and possible repeal of the law during his keynote speech Thursday at the winter conference of the Air Force Association here.
“We are continuing to process those cases,” Donley replied when asked whether the service would wait to act until the Defense Department finishes its assessment, which should be in 45 days.
Donley declined to discuss specific cases such as the potential dismissal of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an F-16E Strike Eagle weapons systems officer who was outed by an acquaintance.
The review, ordered by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will address whether an airman who is outed violates the ban on gays serving openly.
The number of airmen dismissed because of their sexual orientation has steadily declined in the past few years, Donley said. The Air Force let go about 100 airmen in 2006, compared with about 75 in 2009, he said.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama told a joint session of Congress that he wants the ban lifted.
“The president as commander in chief has answered the question of whether this legislative change will be pursued, and the answer is ‘yes,’” Donley told the several hundred airmen who came to hear him speak. “We know this will be an issue of interest to all airmen and is certain to generate much discussion.”
Donley warned the audience that the Air Force cannot be “pulled into the political debate” and that it should “add light and not heat to the discussion.”
Beyond legal issues, Donley said, the Air Force will advise the Pentagon on how repeal of the law could affect unit cohesion and military readiness.
“Congress will be listening to what the military has to say,” he said.
On other matters, Donley said:
* Airmen flying remote-controlled airplanes will outnumber F-16 pilots by the end of the year. The shift comes with the Air Force’s decision to retire more than 100 F-16s and to buy more than 50 unmanned aircraft.
* Congress members will push to buy more C-17 Globemasters in 2011, even though Air Force leaders think the service has enough strategic airlifters and do not want more than the 223 planes already paid for. Money for more C-17s would simply mean less money for other programs.
* The service will announce specifications for the new air refueling tanker by the end of February. The announcement of the winning bid likely will not come until August or September. The Air Force had hoped to announce its choice in June.
