Transcripts

MARK ZDECHLIK: Pamela Mindt has received numerous commendations from the National Guard over her 16 years of service. She was promoted to captain five years ago. But if Army officials at the Pentagon go along with the board's recommendation because she's a lesbian, Mindt will immediately lose her part-time job as a Minnesota National Guard mental health counselor.

PAMELA MINDT: Just three days ago, I received the Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, Minnesota chapter. And today, I faced charges of professional, and moral dereliction and how that's such a conflict in terms here. One day, I'm top of the world. The next day, I'm facing getting my captain bar stripped of me.

MARK ZDECHLIK: It's been almost a year since Mindt told her superiors she was a lesbian. She says she wants to continue in the National Guard, but regulations prohibit that. The policy states homosexuality is incompatible with military service because it adversely affects discipline and morale.

Given that guard regulations explicitly prohibit homosexuals from serving, the administrative board hearing was little more than a formality. It gave Mindt an opportunity to argue her case. She called several witnesses to testify on her behalf. Among them were guard colleagues, including her commanding officer. She says she wants it on the record that her sexuality, not her job performance, is the reason she's being forced out.

PAMELA MINDT: I'm an excellent, competent soldier. And my being a lesbian has got nothing to do with my being a soldier. When I put this uniform on, I'm a soldier first.

And that's what I am. That angers me, makes me all the more committed to the cause. And I think I'm going to meet with my attorneys, meet with my partner, and we're going to decide what direction we're going.

MARK ZDECHLIK: The administrative board recommendation to discharge Mindt now goes before the commander of the first US Army. Minnesota National Guard spokesperson Major Lucy Kender, says from there, it'll be passed off to officials at the Pentagon who will make the final decision for the military. Kender says it would be very unusual for higher-ranking military officials to stray from the board's recommendation. Kender says, regardless of what the Army does, Mindt's long-term military career will likely hinge on what, if any, changes President Clinton will make to the military's ban on homosexuals. She says if the military discharges Mindt, the attorney general will likely place her case on hold while the administration reviews the policy.

LUCY KENDER: Right now, they're looking at this ban or the policy, I should say, and trying to think of some different ways to implement a change to it. Now, they aren't-- the choices go along the gamut right now, whether it's just not asking, or not telling or whatever. So those things that the administration is working on are way beyond being resolved right now. But until that whole thing is fleshed out, that's why they'll put the people in the standby reserve.

MARK ZDECHLIK: If Pentagon officials go along with the recommendation, Mindt would be removed from her job with the Minnesota National Guard and she would not receive guard paychecks while the issue of gays in the military is being decided. With her partner at her side, Mindt said her resolve to fight the policy continues to grow.

PAMELA MINDT: I'm going to drive for this. And I'm going to drive for the rights of myself and others because it's about life. And it's about-- I'm going to have kids. We're going to have kids maybe, and we're going to we have nieces, and nephews and godchildren. I don't want them to be in this position where they're going to have to fear a hearing like this or not have the rights that gays, and lesbians and bisexuals should be if they happen to be one of those.

MARK ZDECHLIK: National Guard officials won't predict how long it might be before the administrative board's recommendation to discharge Mindt is reviewed by higher military officials. President Clinton has asked Defense Secretary Les Aspin to provide him with a draft executive order pertaining to gays in the military by July 15. This is Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio.