National Security Advisor Revises Clearance Guidelines, Opening Door on Sexual Orientation Discrimination

In mid march it was revealed that a December 2005 revision of
the "Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to
Classified Information" could open the door for sexual orientation to be
used as a determining factor in national security clearances.

In 1997, during the Clinton Administration, revisions to the guidelines
were made to read that sexual orientation "may not be used" as a
disqualifying factor for a national security clearance. However,
revisions circulated by National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley show
that in December 2005 those guidelines were changed to read that an
applicant cannot be disqualified "solely on the basis of the sexual
orientation of the individual." A subtle, yet potentially substantial
change for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

"Subtle changes can have drastic consequences for gay Americans looking
to serve their country with honor and courage," said Human Rights
Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This administration continues to
roll back the clock on the most basic of protections that were granted
by the last administration, continuing to call into question this
administrations commitment to fairness and equality. We think it is
vital for National Security Adviser Hadley to quickly and publicly come
out and address why these changes were made."

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