Lesbian Air Force sergeant discharged after SD police see marriage license and tell military
By Timberly Ross, APSaturday, March 13, 2010
Lesbian sgt. discharged after police tell military
Former Air Force sergeant Jene (jeh-NAY’) Newsome says she played by the rules. She never told anyone in the military that she was a lesbian.
But Newsome was discharged earlier this year under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” law after Rapid City, S.D., police officers saw an Iowa marriage license in her home and told the Ellsworth Air Force Base.
The police were at Newsome’s home in November with an arrest warrant for her partner, who was wanted on theft charges in Alaska.
Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed a complaint against the department claiming police invaded her privacy.
Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender says Newsome was uncooperative, and the marriage license was relevant because it established the residency and the relationship of the two women.
Tags: Military Affairs, North America, Occasions, Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, Weddings
|
March 13, 2010: 10:14 pm
Ms. Ross of the AP needs to do better research. Marrying another person known to be of the same biological sex is a violation of DADT under federal law [Title 10 United States Code, Section 654(b)(3)]. By marrying her partner, Jene violated the law underlying the policy regardless of the fact that she never revealed her sexual orientation to anyone in the military. I don’t agree with the policy or the law that requires the military have it, but this story is just sloppy journalism. |
 thomasAlex |
March 13, 2010: 6:07 pm
Once again, the Government over stepping their role and getting away with it!! |
 FlexSF |
March 13, 2010: 4:30 pm
The S.D. cops responsible for Newsome’s discharge deserve to suffer the full penalties under the law. There was absolutely no reason for the cops to exploit a very bad law that discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation. Legal vindication should be swift and fierce! |
Dave M.