Despite Supposed Repeal Of Military Policy Prohibiting Openly Gay Service Personal Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek Morado Faces Hearing Thursday To Determine If He Should Be Dishonourably Discharged For Being Gay

The Fresno Bee reports on 26 year old Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek Morado, hopeful that when President Obama signed a law repealing the military policy prohibiting openly gay service members on December 22rd, his superiors at Lemoore Naval Air Station would stay his pending discharge from the Navy for violation of the policy. However, Morado, outed by a fellow sailor in 2009, still faces honourable discharge from the Navy, and is scheduled to appear at a hearing on the base Thursday before a three-member panel that will recommend whether he should be discharged for homosexual conduct. The hearing is not open to the public. Although the law repealing the longtime policy was signed by Obama three months ago, it will not go into effect until 60 days after the President, defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that lifting the ban will not interfere with the military's ability to fight. Under "don't ask, don't tell," the military could not discriminate against homosexuals and lesbians who remained in the closet, but could discharge anyone who is openly gay. Morado said he has heard that no one has been discharged from the military for being gay since October, and hopes not to be the first since then, because he wants to make the Navy his career. "It's all I really know," he said. "I've done it since high school. I just want to keep doing it."GetEQUAL, a national gay rights advocacy group has publicized Morado's case, calling for signatures from supporters that he can take to Thursday’s hearing. "At least they'll know people are watching and he has supporters in the community who won't let it just happen," said Robin McGehee of Fresno, a director of GetEQUAL. "The fact that the Navy is trying to slide one more discharge in under the wire is disgusting, and must be called out for what it is -- blatant discrimination and bullying." Wednesday, Morado said he knew he had to hide his homosexuality when he enlisted in 2003 after graduating from a Sacramento high school, but his sexual orientation became public after he posted a photo of himself on his MySpace page kissing another man. "He was just a friend, not a romantic interest," Morado said. A senior enlisted man in his ordnance and weapons unit turned him in, he said, and an admiral signed off on discharge proceedings. Once that happens, Morado said, "They have to go through with it."However, no members of the Navy will be discharged under "don't ask, don't tell" without approval of the secretary of the Navy, Lt. Myers Vasquez, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, said Wednesday. Morado said that after he was outed, his job duties changed from making bombs to managing barracks. Other sailors have told him they are on his side, he said, adding "All I've gotten is support and shock that this is happening -- nothing negative.” Morado, who is being represented by a Navy attorney, said the hearing will be overseen by an administrative board of two officers and a senior petty officer.