NEW POLICY ISN'T PROGRESS, GAYS COMPLAIN

Utah gay and lesbian activists blasted President Clinton's new policy toward homosexuals in the military as neither progress nor a compromise.

For the military not to ask about sexual orientation is easy, but for homosexuals not to tell is not so simple, said Dale Sorenson, executive director of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats."It requires (homosexuals) to actively deceive on a daily basis. It requires them to live a lie," Sorenson said. "The witch hunts will continue, the accusations will simply change form."

He said homosexual soldiers will now be disciplined for merely stating their sexual orientation or frequenting a gay bar on leave.

An acceptable policy would be one that allows a homosexual to talk about sexual activities to a physician, clergy or for insurance purposes, explained Chris Ryan, a six-year Navy veteran and a member of the Utah Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America.

"They can't ask, but if we want to be honest and tell them, then we are in trouble," Ryan said. "The policy is basically the same ban all over again."

He feels Clinton caved in to the "bigotry of the religious right," after promising more to gay voters than he is willing to deliver.

"If things don't change by 1996, our next policy will be don't ask for our votes and don't tell us more lies," Ryan said.