Bisexual cadet faces discharge

Honor, sexual orientation endanger Nguyen’s future plans with
ROTC

By Elizabeth Ashford

and Patrick Kerkstra

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Cadet Huong Nguyen wore a meticulously prepared uniform the
morning she delivered the letter that would dramatically change her
life. With gold buttons gleaming and creases ironed sharp, Nguyen
was the perfectly prepared soldier: numb and nearly devoid of
emotion as she delivered her message to her commanding officer.

"I love this nation and the military, and I want to continue to
serve," Nguyen’s letter read. "I only wish to be judged on my
competence and dedication to this nation, not my sexual
orientation."

On that May morning in 1995, she approached Lt. Col. Michael
Graves as a soldier would: rational, feelings under control,
demeanor calm. Then, motivated by deep commitment to the Army, her
partner and honesty, Nguyen revealed her bisexuality.

"What made me come out was the fact that I did believe in the
Army," she said. "I did believe what they taught me: that one of
the criteria to being a good officer is to be honest."

Almost three years after she had entered the Reserve Officer
Training Corps (ROTC), a close friendship with another woman
developed into a romantic relationship, creating an ethical paradox
with which Nguyen could not live. Her reverence for honesty and
honor, reinforced by years of military service, made it impossible
for Nguyen to conceal her sexual identity: an identity that the
military refuses to accept.

She is now among only a handful of ROTC cadets nationwide to be
placed on leave for their sexual orientation under the military’s
"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy on homosexuals. President Bill
Clinton introduced the policy in 1993 "because it provides a
sensible balance between the rights of the individual and the needs
of our military to remain the world’s number one fighting
force."

That compromise led to current Department of Defense guidelines,
which ROTC is obligated to follow.

Under these regulations, enlisting cadets are no longer asked
about their sexual orientation. However, if cadets are openly
homosexual or state that they are homosexual, they will be placed
on leave while the military reviews the case. That policy, combined
with Nguyen’s honesty, has almost certainly destroyed her dreams
for a life-long career as an Army surgeon.

Nguyen has been suspended from all ROTC activities except for
classes, which are open to all students. While on leave, the
scholarship money awarded to her for excellent academic performance
is being withheld.

Once Nguyen’s commanding officer received her letter, he was
obligated to forward it to his superiors for a decision from
Secretary of the Army Togo West. Eight months later, West’s office
still has not rendered its decision.

In the meantime, Nguyen has been living in limbo, waiting for
closure on both her enrollment status and thousands of dollars in
scholarship money she received before suspension.

The Army could compel her to repay all ROTC benefits plus
interest – close to $5,000.

"If (ejecting known homosexuals) is their policy, what’s keeping
up my paperwork?" Nguyen asked. "You could blame it on bureaucracy,
but it’s sitting on somebody’s desk, and that’s my life … and my
health and my mental state."

Although ROTC officials appeared to be in the dark about the
status of Nguyen’s case, they attested to the thoroughness of the
process.

"It involves review at all levels to ensure that the rights of
the individual are fully protected," said Col. Paul Kotakis, an
ROTC public affairs spokesman. "That’s certainly of paramount
importance."

If the military discharges Nguyen after that review, she will
become the third ROTC cadet to face dismissal under the "Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell" policy.

When she enlisted in 1992, Nguyen gave little thought to the
military’s policy. At that time, recruits still were asked
explicitly if they were homosexual. Her honest answer then was
"No."

She had never had a lesbian experience, and still considered
herself heterosexual when she signed the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"
addendum to her ROTC contract in December 1994.

That changed after she met her future partner, Ali Beck, editor
in chief of TenPercent, UCLA’s gay, lesbian and bisexual
newsmagazine, and one of the campus’ most vocal gay rights
activists.

That activism brought the two into deep ideological conflict
when they initially met as dormitory employees. Beck’s values,
which led her to campaign for removal of ROTC from campus, were
nearly the antithesis of Nguyen’s, whose deep commitment to the
military was one of the defining aspects of her character.

But this tension acted as a catalyst for the relationship, they
said. Forced to discuss their differences, Nguyen and Beck became
close friends and eventually found themselves falling in love.

"I had a big dilemma," Nguyen said, "because I was beginning to
care for her, and so I had to choose between lying to ROTC and
keeping her away from my military life."

Neither choice appealed to Nguyen.

As both a student and a cadet, Nguyen’s case highlights the
sometimes volatile relationship between ROTC and the university’s
nondiscrimination policy.

Anti-ROTC protests have been relatively common on campus, and
last year’s demonstrations moved UCLA to the forefront of college
debate over the military’s policy on homosexuals.

"I can’t imagine UCLA allowing any organization on campus that
would dismiss Jews or Hispanics or Irish people, " said David
Mixner, a campus protest organizer and gay rights lobbyist.

Chancellor Charles Young has twice written the secretary of
defense, asking that the policy be changed.

"ROTC programs perform a valuable and important service for our
nation," Young wrote in 1994 to Defense Secretary William Perry.
"But the presence of ROTC at UCLA … has caused great concern
within our campus community – a community committed to full access
to all campus programs by all groups."

In 1993, the Academic Senate took an even stronger position. It
asked the university to terminate its ROTC program unless the
discriminatory treatment of homosexuals ended.

Similarly, undergraduate and graduate student governments spoke
out against the military’s policy. But the university did not
acquiesce, and it still appears unlikely to take such a drastic
step.

Anticipating media inquiries about Nguyen’s case, the university
released a statement last week that emphasized the positive aspects
of ROTC’s role on campus, and gave no indication that the
administration is considering removing the program.

Other cadets, and even Nguyen, agreed such a tactic would be
misdirected.

"Don’t take it out on us," said Cadet Victor Suarez. "This is
not where it’s going to change. Take (the protests) to your
congressman; take it to D.C."

Although Nguyen composed her letter in the same year anti-ROTC
protests climaxed, she has consistently refused to become a
rallying point in any campaign designed to remove the program from
campus.

"The policy isn’t made by ROTC. It’s made by those generals, and
the president and the politicians," she said. "They’re the ones I’m
disappointed in."

It’s likely that Nguyen’s situation will ensure at least a brief
return to campus activism surrounding ROTC.

"Huong’s coming out will make people aware that this type of
discrimination is going on, and in fact, happening at UCLA," Beck
said.

Activists have planned a news conference and rally for
Wednesday, but they were quick to recognize Nguyen’s reluctance to
speak against ROTC, and slow to use her in any anti-ROTC
campaigns.

Indeed, she still staunchly defends ROTC, pointing to the
educational, leadership and scholarship opportunities it provides
for many of the cadets.

"I believe in the program; I like the program," Nguyen said. "It
serves a purpose for a lot of students who cannot get to college on
their own."

And Nguyen’s high estimation of ROTC is matched by her fellow
cadets’ opinion of her.

Although Lt. Col. Graves would not comment on her performance as
a soldier, he referred The Bruin to the unit cadets, who voiced
unanimous admiration of Nguyen’s competence.

She was spoken of as a role model, exceptional both in the
classroom and the field, they said. They described her as a
forceful leader, unafraid to exert her authority.

"She was a fine soldier; she would have made an excellent
officer," said Cadet Lt. Col. George Sadler, the current unit
commander. "She was dedicated and motivated and wanted everyone to
be professional."

Her service record reflects that professionalism. In her three
years as an ROTC cadet, Nguyen was recognized for academic
excellence and general service. Her honors culminated in an Army
Commendation Medal – a reward for overall accomplishments and
excellence as a soldier.

And although Nguyen’s chances for remaining in ROTC are slim, it
is evident the program’s cadets would greet her return
enthusiastically.

"Nobody has anything against Ms. Nguyen; she was really cool,"
said Cadet Jeff Crowley.

When asked if the program would welcome her back, Suarez said,
"Oh, totally. Oh my god, the cadets love her."

Despite her colleagues’ support, Nguyen’s life has become
undeniably more dramatic and complicated over the last year, and
the decision to make her experience public suggests this will
continue.

And only now is the full scope of her situation beginning to set
in, Nguyen said.

"(Last year) I was in a fight-or-flight mode," she said. "I had
to make quick decisions about my future; I had to protect myself,
so I didn’t give myself a chance to feel anything."

And there are still others she must come out to. Although she
revealed her sexual orientation to the ROTC nine months ago, she
has not yet told her parents.

"I don’t know what their reaction will be … they will, I
think, come around to the point of ‘she’s gotta do what she’s gotta
do,’" Nguyen said. "I’m going to give them as much time as they
want."

Nguyen’s decision to come out publicly and privately has forced
her, once again, to contemplate her situation.

"A week or so ago, I had time to really sit down and re-evaluate
what happened. I got very upset and (felt) betrayed."

Her goal to become a military careerist, to serve 20 years as a
surgeon and attain lieutenant colonel rank, is shattered. She still
intends to become a doctor, but now hopes to treat children, not
soldiers.

"I used to think all the time about when I’d become
commissioned, in my fourth year," Nguyen said.

"And I would be very proud, and I would envision everything that
would happen – my mom on the right side, my dad on the left side –
they would both pin the bars on me. And it was something I was
proud of."

Daily Bruin file photo

Discrepancies between UCLA’s nondiscrimination policy and ROTC’s
presence on campus prompted activists, like Ali Beck ,to
protest.

See related story:

Journey from Vietnam, immigration to U.S. mold cadet’s
character

Bisexual cadet faces discharge

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