Reservist seeking conscientious objector status reveals he's gay

Herald-Tribune ^ | April 02. 2003 | KIM CURTIS

[John Lenin]

Reservist seeking conscientious objector status reveals he's gay

By KIM CURTIS
Associated Press Writer

A 20-year-old Marine reservist who failed to report for duty with his unit revealed in his application for a conscientious objector discharge that he is gay - providing another way out if the military rejects his argument that killing is immoral.

Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk turned himself in Tuesday to the Marines after being absent without leave since mid-February, when his support battalion was sent to Camp Pendleton.

The Marines have assigned him to desk duty in San Jose while his case proceeds.

Funk wrote in his 10-page discharge application that he's opposed to war and violence in all forms and that being gay has played a role in his moral development. "I believe that as a gay man, someone who is misunderstood by much of the general population, I have a great deal of experience with hatred and oppression," Funk wrote.

"I was appalled by the amount of hatred I found in the military," he continued. "The military cultivates anti-gay sentiment among its enlisted but I also believe it perpetuates feelings of hatred against all that are different either culturally, ethnically or otherwise," in order to dehumanize potential enemies.

Funk, whose father served in Vietnam, grew up in Washington state and enlisted when he was 19 and living on his own for the first time. He said he grew uncomfortable with the military when he was made to shout "Kill! Kill! Kill!" during a basic training exercise. Since his training, he said he's gone to every major anti-war rally in the San Francisco Bay area.

Funk's lawyer, Stephen Collier, acknowledged that if the Marine Corps refuses to grant him conscientious objector status, Funk will likely be discharged for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy by declaring his homosexuality in the application. The policy allows gays and lesbians to serve as long as they keep quiet about their sexual orientation.

"He's not in the closet, so we're not hiding it," Collier said. "There's a regulation that requires them to be truthful and complete in their application, and there's a regulation that requires him not to tell he's gay, and says 'if you do, you'll be discharged,' so there's a conflict there."

Northwestern University sociology professor and military expert Charles Moskos, who helped write the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, said Funk's revelation may undermine his application.

"As a legitimate conscientious objector he should try to defend his argument on moral and ethical grounds," he said. "Why do the double track?"

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which has tracked such discharges, believes the military eases its restrictions against homosexuals during wartime. In 2001, more than 1,200 service members were kicked out for being gay, but in 2002, after troops were deployed to Afghanistan, that number decreased to 906, according to spokesman Steve Ross.

Conscientious objector applications, meanwhile, tend to increase during wartime. There were 111 granted during the 1991 Gulf War. Only 28 were granted last year, military officials said. It's unclear how many such applications have been filed since the Iraq war began, but non-profit groups that counsel people in the military about the process say they've handled more inquiries.

The Marines say they'll treat Funk's case fairly.

"The Marine Corps understands there are service members opposed to the war," Capt. Patrick O'Rourke, the unit spokesman, said after Funk turned himself in. O'Rourke did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment about Funk's announcing he's gay.

[John Lenin]

This whole story sounds like it was a setup from the get-go.

[Commander8]

Smells like an ACLU test case.

[Hunterb]

So what if he's gay, he knew he was gay when he signed on the dotted line, but that didn't stop him.
He's a fricken coward bastard!!!!

[Paul Atreides]

First the anti-war community comes off smelling like a backed-up toilet at the wedding. Now, it is the homosexual community's turn.

[stylin19a]

there is first the matter of AWOL, which nobody seems to think is a big deal, an no one is talking about punishment.
The Marines can adios him for the good of the Corps., but first they could hang him high, if they wanted to.

[Duckdog]

He sounds like a chicken sh*t to me. Next thing you know we will hear "I here for school".

[Maeve]

This sounds like a total set-up. Perhaps God will favor us a bit and smite this fool with a lightning bolt.

[CARepubGal]

Gay was part of his moral development? What a maroon!

[Slyfox]

Gee whiz, he claims he got talked into becoming a soldier because he thought he's be able to see the world, get a free education, but no one told him he'd have to kill people. Then, he claims to be a conscientious objector. Now he's gay. Next thing you know, he's gonna start wearing a dress, high-heels and a funny hat.

[TotusTuus]

"As a legitimate conscientious objector he should try to defend his argument on moral and ethical grounds," he said. "Why do the double track?"

The answer seems pretty obvious to me. He's conscience of being shot at.

[Paul Atreides]

He's a conscientious ejaculator. I wonder, if he really is a homo, how many he will kill by spreading AIDS.

[I still care]

He should have to pay back every cent he took, if they let him out. It probably runs in the many thousands, especially if he took tuition money.

[Duke Nukum]

I thought he revealed he was gay a few days ago.

I heard sound bits on Rush today and the thertanly thpeakths like heths a thsteriotypical gay man.

He said: My recruiter lied, thilly, but I'm thuper, sthatnks for athking.

[Ronin]

Boot him out and forget about him. Giving him publicity is just playing into their hands. Convenience of the Government - boop, gone.

[chachacha]

"The military cultivates anti-gay sentiment among its enlisted but I also believe it perpetuates feelings of hatred against all that are different either culturally, ethnically or otherwise," in order to dehumanize potential enemies.

Hey Stephan in case you haven't heard the Marines are FOR MEN not cowards and pansy asses

[nmh]

How silly ... immoral to kill someone but it is moral to be gay? As usual these confused souls have it all wrong.

It is moral to kill evil people. It is immoral to be gay. This boy toy probably thought he'd party with other boy toys for awhile and get whatever benefits he could BUT when it came to risking his tush, well he had to announce the coward that he is.

[Michael Barnes]

Pardon this (somewhat old) jarhead for calling this Funk guy what the rest of my Corps is calling him; FAGGOT!

[nmh]

Is the priest that went with him to file his paperwork also gay? Maybe that's the real reason. He's having an affair with the priest and didn't meet anyone suitable in the military.

[Mike K]

The Marines have assigned him to desk duty in San Jose while his case proceeds.

How about assigning his sorry butt to a federal pen while he awaits court martial?

[bellevuesbest]

In a column today on Funk in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, columnist Robert L. Jamieson Jr. closes with this sentence, "But the stand you've (referring to Funk) taken is every bit as courageous and controversial as those who follow the marching orders to go out and kill, kill, kill."

How's that?????