By Craig Whitlock
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 4, 2011; 12:17 PM
To hear Navy Petty Officer Stephen C. Jones tell it, what happened in his bedroom one night last month was purely innocuous: Another male sailor came by to watch "The Vampire Diaries," and they both dozed off in the same bed. "That is the honest, entire story," Jones said.
Navy officials, however, have a different view of his bedroom behavior at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, near Charleston, S.C. Even though there is no evidence the 21-year-old sailor committed any hanky-panky or that his friend was not permitted to visit, Jones has been charged with dereliction of duty. The Navy is seeking to discharge him, a move that he is contesting.
"The subterfuge is, they believe this kid is a homosexual, but they have no proof of it," said Gary Myers, Jones's civilian attorney. "So what they've done here is to trump this thing up as a crime. This is not a crime."
In December, President Obama signed legislation that will eventually allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the ranks for the first time. But the law will not take effect until 60 days after Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and other officials formally certify to Congress that the military is ready to fully integrate gays and lesbians.
In the meantime, the Pentagon has effectively frozen many pending investigations into whether individual service members are gay. A Defense Department spokeswoman said Pentagon officials have not approved the discharge of anyone for violating "don't ask, don't tell" since at least October.
As a strong conservative, I have to say… Gay, Straight, White, Black, Yellow with Purple Poka-Dots. This is outrageous. I personally know this Sailor … he is honest and an all around good person. He is strong and diligent when he sees and injustice to anyone. I am saddened by the treatment that he has received. I am ashamed that he was told out right that he was being “separated” from the Navy because “he might have done something”. Did you catch that I said he was told he was being punished because “he MIGHT do something”? Has America lost sight of what we are supposed to be standing for? We are supposed to be the Nation that sets the example to all other countries. So many of our Soldiers have died just for that. Then the “face” of America, our very own Military, now feels that they do not even have to follow our own laws…the same laws, and rights that they say they are dying to defend?! I am disgusted. I am ashamed and I am heartbroken. No one needs to ask what has happened to youth today, because they have NO representation of how America should be. When our Military and our Law Enforcement is no longer held to a higher standard~then no one should think that the younger generation will have the respect that is needed. Under the “reasoning “ for Stephens “separation” , everyone who has ever had a drink should be punished because they “might” get drunk and drive. Everyone who has ever been mad should be punished because they “might” get mad enough to be violent. Is this REALLY where we want America to go? Conservative as I may be… I am an American first and I DO NOT stand by our Military for this. I just hope that a little justice can be still be found for Stephen and any other person that has had the Government stomp on their God given American rights.
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