White House Alters Security Rules for Gays

The administration rewrote a 1997 regulation that had said sexual orientation "may not be used as a basis" for denying clearances or determining whether individuals should be eligible to access classified information unless it could make them vulnerable to coercion or exploitation.

President Bush's updated language says security clearances cannot be denied "solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of the individual."

If sexual behavior is "strictly private, consensual and discreet," that could lessen security concerns, according to the regulations that came as part of an update to clearance guidelines distributed in December.

Gay rights activists said the change could open the door to added attention on sexual orientation — and discrimination.

Would that mean that Jeff Gannon will no longer be let in on the sensitive matters?

On a more serious note - doesn't this Administration have real work to do? What's this sick obsession with sex about?

tags: administration  gays  security