Security Clearance Rules May Impede Gays

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/14/06 | Katherine Shrader - ap

[Wilhelm Tell]

Rules approved by President Clinton in 1997 said that sexual behavior may be a security concern if it involves a criminal offense, suggests an emotional disorder, could subject someone to coercion or shows a lack of judgment.

So Bill Clinton is disqualified according to his own rules.

[Tzimisce]

...I say let homosexuals in. Do you know what radical Muslims do to practicing gays?

[quietolong]

No it’s not a blackmail thing.

One of the things the old KGB would look for was Homos. Not to blackmail them. But to give them what they wanted. You want a little boy, No problem, Just hand over that
code book.
The KGB figured trying to blackmail them would work against them. The people would turn themselves in more readily.

[detsaoT]

It has been 20 yeas since I worked in security, but as I recall, both adulterers and closet homosexuals were grounds for security clearance dismissal.

Not to worry—Clinton "fixed" all of that.

Since the mid-nineties, no "personal lifestyle choices" are to be used as grounds to dismiss a security clearance. Under Clinton, the FBI was even discouraged from investigating those with "alternate lifestyles" and security clearances, due to the Administration appointees who were ... "on the payroll" with groups like Human Rights Campaign.

Sadly, in an effort to appear "moderate," the Bush administration has not done nearly enough to fix this situation, and our national security is still in atrocious shape.

[luckystarmom]

You got that right. However, there were quite a few men and women that were having affairs at our company. Their spouses didn't know, but their co-workers did. They kept their clearances, and I didn't think they should have.

I also did not trust those co-workers.

Like I said before, I'd rather have an out in the open gay person who is serious about security, then a lying sneaking heterosexual not serious about security.

[luckystarmom]

It was originally ESL, a subsidiary of TRW. Then it just became part of TRW. I'm not working now, but the company got taken over by Northrup Grumman.

[NC28203]

>>>Maybe because a closet homo would be vulnerable to blackmail?

But the new wording seems to encourage those still in the closet while rejecting those that are out.
-- The new rules say behavior that is "strictly private, consensual and discreet" could "mitigate security concerns."