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From: gerber@mit-amt.MIT.EDU (Andrew S. Gerber)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Security Clearences
Message-ID: <41@mit-amt.MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 21-Nov-85 19:55:14 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-amt.41
Posted: Thu Nov 21 19:55:14 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 10:41:42 EST
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 36
Keywords: security, clearence. I_hate_keywords_lines

I'm interested in what experience people have had in getting security
clearences, especially if one is an "out of the closet" homosexual.
(I'm not talking flaming, just a person who is secure in their
sexuality and whose family/loved ones/etc know about their gayness)

I read an article in "Graduating Engineer" recently, (Sep. '85) issue,
called "Required -- A Security Clearence".  Part of it is reproduced
here (without permission from the publisher -- it's copyright 1985
McGraw Hill and Company)

-----------------------------------
Although each clearence request is evaluated as a unique case, any of
several circumstances could cause problems..

(and they list some, including)

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT:
Anyonw who could be embarrassed by public revelation of private sexual
practices is a cantidate for blackmail.  The desire for secrecy is
more siginificant than the nature of the act.  Thus, a person who
openly acknowledges his or her homosexuality would be less of a
security risk than a "closet gay", or an adulterer.
-----------------------------------

Has anyone out there been denied a security clearence becasue of their
homosexuality?  Has anyone gotten one being openly gay?  I'd be
interested in hearing about this, and if people are interested, a
discussion about it could be warrented.

				-Andy
-- 
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|  Andrew S. Gerber    MIT '87    Systems Manager,  Visible Language Workshop |
|  gerber@mit-athena.MIT.EDU, gerber@mit-amt.MIT.EDU, gerber@mit-mc.MIT.EDU   |
|  {decvax, mit-eddie}!mit-amt!gerber   {decvax, mit-eddie}!mit-athena!gerber |
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