Gov. seeks to reverse Guardsman firing
Gov. seeks to reverse Guardsman firing
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
By Gary Barlow
Staff writer
A spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) said May 4 that the governor opposes the U.S. military’s policy that bans openly gay soldiers and is looking for a way to reverse the discharge earlier this year of a gay Illinois Air National Guard sman.
SSgt. Marty Dwyer was kicked out of the Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing, based in Springfield, in February after serving full-time in the ANG unit since 1999. The discharge came after Dwyer’s superiors investigated a report that Dwyer had a profile posted on Gay.com.
Ill. state Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) told CFP several weeks ago that postings such as Dwyer’s Gay.com profile, which doesn’t mention sex, are not supposed to be used as the sole basis for a discharge under the military’s anti-gay “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Dwyer’s superiors nevertheless pushed for his discharge despite Dwyer’s record of performing his duties well enough to be promoted to head the Guard unit’s security training program.
The final discharge order Dwyer received last month said the discharge was carried out “by order of the governor,” and Dwyer and McKeon criticized Blagojevich for not stopping the discharge. Blagojevich, like governors in the other 49 states, is commander of the state’s National Guard units.
But Blagojevich spokeswoman Cheryl Jackson said last week that the language of the order is just a formality because such discharge orders come from Washington, D.C., and Blagojevich never sees them.
“It’s federally mandated,” Jackson said. “It’s a legal document. ÉIt has the signature of the personnel management officer.”
Jackson said that once Blagojevich became aware of the circumstances surrounding Dwyer’s discharge, he asked Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office for an advisory opinion, still pending, on whether or not he could reverse it.
“Unfortunately, federal law requires this policy, and the governor opposes it,” Jackson said. “We’re asking the attorney general if there’s any way possible to reverse it.”
Citing Illinois’ Human Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, Dwyer has filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The law’s provisions concerning sexual orientation took effect last year with Blagojevich’s backing.
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
By Gary Barlow
Staff writer
A spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) said May 4 that the governor opposes the U.S. military’s policy that bans openly gay soldiers and is looking for a way to reverse the discharge earlier this year of a gay Illinois Air National Guard sman.
SSgt. Marty Dwyer was kicked out of the Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing, based in Springfield, in February after serving full-time in the ANG unit since 1999. The discharge came after Dwyer’s superiors investigated a report that Dwyer had a profile posted on Gay.com.
Ill. state Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) told CFP several weeks ago that postings such as Dwyer’s Gay.com profile, which doesn’t mention sex, are not supposed to be used as the sole basis for a discharge under the military’s anti-gay “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Dwyer’s superiors nevertheless pushed for his discharge despite Dwyer’s record of performing his duties well enough to be promoted to head the Guard unit’s security training program.
The final discharge order Dwyer received last month said the discharge was carried out “by order of the governor,” and Dwyer and McKeon criticized Blagojevich for not stopping the discharge. Blagojevich, like governors in the other 49 states, is commander of the state’s National Guard units.
But Blagojevich spokeswoman Cheryl Jackson said last week that the language of the order is just a formality because such discharge orders come from Washington, D.C., and Blagojevich never sees them.
“It’s federally mandated,” Jackson said. “It’s a legal document. ÉIt has the signature of the personnel management officer.”
Jackson said that once Blagojevich became aware of the circumstances surrounding Dwyer’s discharge, he asked Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office for an advisory opinion, still pending, on whether or not he could reverse it.
“Unfortunately, federal law requires this policy, and the governor opposes it,” Jackson said. “We’re asking the attorney general if there’s any way possible to reverse it.”
Citing Illinois’ Human Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, Dwyer has filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The law’s provisions concerning sexual orientation took effect last year with Blagojevich’s backing.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 7:30 PM
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