·APRIL 5, 1996

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

9

OBITUARIES

Dennis R. Romine

Dennis R. Romine, age 35. Life-long companion of Kirk A. Schoeffel. Beloved son of Virginia and the late Robert. Loving brother of Bob (Maryellen), Bill (Becky), Nancy (Jim) Blucker, and Jerry (Nancy). Uncle and great-uncle. Friend of many devoted "family" friends.

Passed away Wednesday, March 27. Memorials may be forwarded to the Cleveland

Lesbian-Gay Center, 1418 W. 29th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44113 or to the AIDS Taskforce of Cleveland, 2728 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

A funeral service was held Saturday, March 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the McGorray Brothers Funeral Home with burial at Lakewood Park Cemetery. Arrangements were by Busch Family Funeral Chapels.

Perry J. Watkins

Tacoma, Wash.-Perry J. Watkins, the first person to successfully challenge the ban against gays in the military, has died from complications of AIDS. He was 47.

Watkins died March 17 at his home in Tacoma, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said.

Watkins, who had always been out to his commanding officers, won a federal court ruling, which the Supreme Court let stand, that allowed him to retire with full honors.

A native of Missouri, Watkins was drafted into the Army in 1968, during the Vietnam War, despite having declared his homosexuality on an induction form.

wasn't until 1981 that the Department of Defense formally declared homosexuality "incompatible with military service," and required gays and lesbians be discharged. An earlier gay discharge policy, dating from World War II, allowed commanding officers to take no action if they found a subordinate was gay.

"I didn't lie to the Army. I told the truth all these years that I'm homosexual," Watkins said in an interview in 1983. “I always made a point of informing the units where I'm assigned that I'm homosexual. My commanding officer always knew it."

In 1980, the Army notified Sgt. Watkins that it was revoking his security clearance. The Army later told him it was also commencing discharge proceedings.

Watkins, represented by the ACLU of Washington, sued in U.S. District Court in 1981 to obtain reinstatement of his security clearance and to prevent his discharge.

After a series of court rulings, the Army succeeded in discharging Watkins in 1984. At the time, he had served 16 years, four years short of being eligible for a full pension.

In May 1989, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Army could not enforce its anti-gay policy because Watkins acknowledged being gay when he was drafted, but was allowed to reenlist three times.

The court's ruling focused only on Watkins' case, and did not address the larger issue of bias.

After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the Army's appeal, the Army settled Watkins' lawsuit in 1991 by allowing him to retire from the military with honorable discharge and $135,000 in back pay. He remains the only openly gay servicemember to retire with full honors.

"Watkins was an example of how honesty and perseverance can make a difference," GLAAD spokesman Mark F. Johnson said.

Watkins was prominently featured in the late Randy Shilts' book Conduct Unbecoming, a work on the military's treatment of gays. He had begun a public speaking career before his death, addressing Reserve Officers Training Corps units and other college groups.

A 1994 documentary called Sis: The Perry Watkins Story was made about his military career. The title referred to Watkins' performances as a female impersonator at various military bases.

Burial plans were for a small private ceremony near Watkins' home.

♡

21" MICHIGAN WOMYN'S MUSIC FESTIVAL

August 13-18, 1996 Come and join us as we begin

our third decade of enjoying

the woods, the music, the

extravagant days and

star-filled nights...the

womyn and magic

of Michigan.

For brochure & ticket info: WWTMC, PO Box 22, Walhalla, MI 49458 (616) 757-4766

Don't Miss Our Upcoming Concerts

The North Coast Men's Chorus

under the direction of

Timothy Robson, Music Director

will present

We Sing the Dream

Saturday, June 15, 1996, 8:00 pm

Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland State Univ•2001 Euclid Ave. The North Coast Men's Chorus celebrates Cleveland's Pride Day with works we will perform during our appearance at the GALA Festival in Tampa. Please join us for a big send-off and the premiere of a work commissioned especially for NCMC.

Eric William Berne 1959-1993

Brave Soldier, Good Friend, Loving Partner Cincinnati Mourns

Obituaries

Obituaries may be placed in the Chronicle free of charge. They can be sent by mail or fax (see Community Forum page før address); but we can't take information over the phone. Include your name and phone, so we may contacı you. A photo can be included; please send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want it returned.

then we're off to

GALA V

July 6-15 1996

NCMC performs Tuesday July 9, 1996 Coastliners perform Saturday July 6, 1996 The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses in Tampa, Florida

........................

NORTH COAST MEN'S CHORUS

CLEVELAND

OHIO

1996-97 Season!