Navy Defends Its Discharge of Gay Tracked Online
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WASHINGTON — The Navy defended its actions Monday in discharging a 17-year veteran sailor for homosexuality after apparently uncovering his sexual orientation through a computer online service.
Critics accused the Navy of invasion of privacy by tracking down the sailor’s identity from an America Online Inc. profile page in which he called himself simply “Tim,” but said he is gay.
The Navy’s deputy chief of personnel ordered Senior Chief Petty Officer Timothy R. McVeigh to be dismissed from the service for violating the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuality.
McVeigh is no relation to the convicted bomber of the Oklahoma City federal building.
McVeigh, 36, was stationed on the attack submarine Chicago.
One Navy official said information posted by McVeigh in the AOL subscriber profile represented a “statement” under the military rules about homosexuality. And the policy does allow the military to discharge those who declare their homosexuality.
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