SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA : Gay Civilian Worker Files Bias Claim Against Navy
A civil rights group filed a complaint Thursday against the Navy alleging that a civilian worker at the Pt. Mugu Naval installation was transferred in retaliation for statements he made concerning the military’s ban on gay service members.
In the complaint, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California contends that Tom Swann was illegally transferred after publicly voicing his opposition to the armed forces’ prohibition on gays and lesbians. Swann says he was reassigned to an office in which he had previously been harassed and threatened because he is gay.
“We believe our personnel actions concerning Mr. Swann have been appropriate and correct,” said Alan Alpers, naval public affairs officer at Pt. Mugu. “The discussions of the specifics of this case are not appropriate,” he said, declining further comment.
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