More Soldiers Say They’re Gay to Quit Military

WASHINGTON — More people are opting out of the military by declaring they are homosexual, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said Monday, but he denied that there has been any increase in sexual harassment.

Cohen insisted the military’s policy on homosexuals is working.

“We intend to continue to emphasize the fact that this policy should not be abused, that there should be no attempt to hunt or seek out those who are--may be--homosexual, and that we intend to strictly enforce the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” Cohen said.

The number of people who have either left or been expelled from the service on grounds of homosexuality rose from 850 in 1996 to nearly 1,000 in 1997, said a Pentagon official familiar with a study of the issue, which is now in draft form and has not been made public.

Some officers have speculated that homosexuality may be used as an excuse by people who are unhappy with being in the military.

The don’t ask, don’t tell policy is supposed to allow gays to serve if they keep their sexual orientation private, but it punishes those who engage in homosexual acts or take actions that call attention to their orientation.

Commanders are not to ask about sexual orientation or launch investigations without credible evidence.