WASHINGTON — Reversing an earlier decision, the Air Force said Monday it intends to discharge a lesbian Air Force officer who had remained in the military despite openly declaring her homosexuality.
An Air Force general earlier this year concluded that Lt. Robin R. Chaurasiya should not be discharged, saying she had declared her sexual orientation for the purpose of avoiding military service. She denied she was trying to leave the Air Force.
After Chaurasiya spoke publicly about that decision, the Air Force announced a further review. On Monday, Air Force officials told Chaurasiya that a more senior officer, Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., reversed the earlier decision and recommended she be honorably discharged.
“I am kind of heartbroken,” Chaurasiya said. “I felt my situation was hinting at changes. I real ly thought I would be able to lead the way for a more equal military.”
About 16,000 service members have been discharged since a 1993 law imposed a ban on gays who serve openly in the military.
However, President Barack Obama has called for an end to the ban on gays in the military. Defense officials are studying ways to end the ban.
In the interim, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a new set of guidelines would be used to make enforcement of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law more humane.
Senior military officials are trying to walk a fine line between Obama’s call to repeal the ban and the requirement that they enforce a law requiring the removal of openly gay service members.
