http://www.rainbownetwork.com/content/NewsLife.asp?newsid=2246

The row is deepening over an image of a homophobic message written by a US military officer on a bomb intended for Afghan victims.

The photograph, released by the Associated Press, shows an officer aboard the USS Enterprise preparing a bomb in the campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan. The message on this bomb reads, “HIGH JACK(sic) THIS FAGS”.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organisation that supports lesbian and gay members of the armed forces, called on US Navy leaders today to condemn and hold accountable military personnel aboard the USS Enterprise.

"The message is insulting and inappropriate," said SLDN legal director Sharra E. Greer. "It is also in clear violation of the United States military`s stated policies on harassment and morale.

"The United States Navy would never allow racial epithets or derogatory graffiti based on gender or religion to be scrawled on American property," Greer said. "Messages like the one presented in this photograph only reinforce the ideas of hatred and division that our nation seeks to defend against. We must not emulate the intolerance of our enemies."

Richard Haymes, executive director of the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, said: "The message equates gays with the `enemy`, it places gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers, who are serving as honorably as anyone else at this time at risk and dishonors them.

“It also denigrates gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, fought to save others over Pennsylvania on doomed United Airlines Flight 93, and who valiantly rushed to assist those after the attacks on their roles as firemen, police officers, emergency personnel, and private citizens. All of this at a time of alleged national unity."

But William K. Dobbs, the gay activist and member of QueerWatch, responded: “While many Americans raise questions about the current military campaign - amidst reports of civilian causalities - NCAVP avoids any messy policy issues and sends the message that the bombs and the dropping of same is fine. As long as there is no bad graffiti on them.”

Joan Garry, executive director of media watchdog group Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said: "If US military property had been defaced with a racial, ethnic, or religious slur against any other group - including against the targeted terrorists - I doubt the Associated Press would have found such a photo acceptable for publication."

She attacked the Associated Press’ generic caption, adding: "Any media outlet that reprints this photo should present it in its proper context and report the response to its offensive content. We also expect the Associated Press to clarify that context in any future captions and subsequent reports."

The Associated Press has since removed the image.