HOMOSEXUAL SUES OVER LOSS OF CIA SECURITY CLEARANCE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90-00552R000202360012-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 18, 2011
Sequence Number: 
12
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 15, 1983
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90-00552R000202360012-7.pdf90.15 KB
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- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000202360012-7 LOS ANGELES TIMES ARTICLE APPEARED 15 November 1983 014 PACE / HomosexualSues Over Loss of CIA Security Clearance Ry KEVIN RGPER?Cu Timm S!cf Water. A manager on a top-sccrctprojcct at TRW Inc. who lived an open but quiet o nosexval -tife-for?30 years sued-the-Central Intelligence Agen- cy on Monday in an effort to overturn the agency's policy pro- hibiting homosexuals from holding sensitive security clearances, John W. Green. 50, who described himself as a conservative Republi- can proud of his contributions to national security, lost his special clearance in 1981, when CIA inves- tigators coincidentally discovered that Green was a homosexual during a background check of his longtime lover, who was also a TRW employ- ee at the time. Green said he never concealed his homosexual relationship during the 20 years he was an engineer on classified projects at TRW's Tor- rance facility. He was forced to accept a lower- level job at the firm after his necessary "sensitive com- partmented information" clearance, one of the highest security ratings for intelligence work, was revoked. Gay rights leaders who oppose the CIA policy consider the case a significant court test and have of- fered assistance. They contend that loyal and qualified scientists and engineers who have homosexual relationships at home are not secu- rity risks, and say the policy has blocked many homosexuals from jobs, deprived the nation of good talent and risked national security because thousands of people in sensitive jobs fear admitting they are gay. Green's clearance was revoked under a policy barring homosexuals from holding certain security clear- ances. The policy is ' based on an assumption that homosexuals are security risks because they are susceptible to blackmail by foreign powers threatening td reveal them. The CIA also said that Green tried to hide his sexual 'orientation from investigators, it charge that he denied. .The.intel igence agency refused to comment on tKe suit Monday. TRW. a major defense and intelligence contractor, was not named in the suit. The company has a policy of not comment. ing on:iitigation. A ban on homosexuals was adopted throughout the federal government in the early 1950s, but has been rescinded or thrown out by courts in most areas except the military, and national ? security. In 1981, the National Security Agency allowed a trattstator to keep his job if he informed his family! and friends he was homosexual to avoid the chance of blackmail, but most Intelligence agencies evidently continue to restrict homosex- -Earlier this year, a homosexual Foreign Ser. vice officer reportedly was allowed to stay on the fob and accept posting overseas, despite his sexual orientation. ?Seeame Suspicious Century City attorney John McDermott, who is representing Green in the Los Angeles federal court .suit,, said the agency apparently became suspicious of Green in 1981 during a security clearance investigation of* his longtime lover. Both men admitted their relationship to CIA investigators, McDermott said, 'Green said during a press conference Monday that he has been open abcut his life style for years with ca-workers and would have told investiga- tors earlier if they had asked. But he said the agency never asked him during the background investigations it conducted before issuing his clearance. He said he assumed that investigators knew because friends had been aware that he was gay since 1967, he belonged to a ski club for gay men and women and occasionally attended events held by a gay political club In Long Beach. Although he lived openly, Green said, his sexual orientation never became an issue on the job. He had homosexual friends who also worked in the firm's Electronic and Defense Sector, and had given parties at his home attended by gay friends and non-gay workers from the office, he said. "I never felt any need to corner people and express my sexual preference," Green said. "I just live my life." " OA7EVLMD Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000202360012-7