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| Norme antidiscriminatorie decretate da Clinton |
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| Il Presidente ha emanato un "executive order" che aggrava le pene che le corti marziali devono erogare ai colpevoli di "hate crimes" contro gli appartenenti alle minoranze. Rafforzata anche la tutela della privacy dei militari Usa, nei loro rapporti con gli psicoterapeuti militari cui vogliano rivelare il proprio orientamento sessuale |
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| Venerdì 08 Ottobre 1999 |
| di Felice Mill Colorni |
| in Focus |
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Clinton signs order on military anti-gay crimes
WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - President Bill Clinton
announced on Thursday he signed an executive order allowing for
tougher sentences under the U.S. military's criminal code for
hate crimes motivated by race, colour, religion and sexual
orientation.
In a written statement, Clinton said he signed the order to
amend the military's Manual for Courts-Martial, which sets out
procedures for criminal trials in the armed forces.
"As in the case of laws that apply in civilian courts, this
rule sends a strong message that violence based on hatred will
not be tolerated," Clinton said. White House officials said
Clinton signed the order on Wednesday.
In particular, the rules provide that military judges may
consider whether the offence was motivated by the victim's
race, colour, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender,
disability or sexual orientation.
The order, called for by gay advocates, came in the wake of
the killing last July 5 of Army Pvt. Barry Winchell at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, because he was believed to be homosexual.
He was beaten to death with a baseball bat.
Clinton's order also extends limited protection to
homosexuals in the military who confide their sexual
orientation to psychotherapists.
Under the order, gay and lesbian service members can talk
to psychotherapists about their sexual orientation in regard to
criminal matters without having it used against them.
Advocates for gays in the military have complained that
therapists had been turning in and ultimately forcing the
discharge of gay and lesbian service members who sought
counselling about being homosexual.
Under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy,
homosexuals can be thrown out of the military if they disclose
that they are gay.
"The purpose of this change is to encourage candid
confidential communications between patients and mental health
professionals," Clinton said.
The Servicemembers Legal Defence Network, a Washington
organisation that represents soldiers prosecuted because of
their perceived sexual orientation, said gay service members
still face the threat of being turned in by psychotherapists if
they acknowledge their sexuality to them in regard to
administrative matters.
The network's co-executive director, C. Dixon Osburn, said
"commanders may still improperly use private conversations
about a patient's sexual orientation between a service member
and a psychotherapist as a basis for discharge."
Osburn urged Defence Secretary William Cohen to "close this
loophole and provide safe space for service members to discuss
their sexual orientation or harassment they are experiencing in
a private context without fear of reprisal."
REUTERS
071701 GMT oct 99
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