MILITARY MONDAY

Lance's Boyfriend Attacks Military Anti-Gay Rules In New Book

Pop star Lance Bass' boyfriend Reichen Leymkuhl has written a new book titled Here's What We'Ll Say, which chronicles his 'coming out' at the Us Air Force Academy.

The Us reality Tv hunk hopes his story will prompt lawmakers to change regulations which ostracise gay people in the military.
He says, "It's still a criminal offence to be gay in the Us Armed Forces. It's an abomination.

"In my opinion, it's the last legal human rights abuse the Us allows. This book chronicles the secret society we created to survive as gay cadets in the academy.

"(With this book) I'm making a political statement. I wrote this book to end the ban on gay people serving in the Us Armed Forces... It's just this one thing that needs to be fixed."



British Probe Underway

Seven sailors are under investigation following allegations of assault and breach of conduct at Torpoint's HMS Raleigh.

Leading Physical Trainer Sam Connell, aged 22, who is a finalist in the Mr Gay UK competition, is alleged to have assaulted a 20-year-old male recruit in the gym.

In a separate incident six other sailors have been accused of flings with female recruits and an assault on a trainee.

A Royal Navy spokesman this morning confirmed that an investigation is being carried out by the Royal Navy Special Investigations Branch.

"I can confirm that the Royal Navy Special Investigations Branch is investigating an allegation of assault on one individual," the spokesman said.

"A separate investigation is ongoing into possible breaches of the Code of Social Conduct by six personnel at HMS Raleigh. As these are on-going it would be inappropriate to identify those involved as no individuals have yet been charged."

The spokesman could not comment on whether Mr Connell had been dismissed from the navy or not, but added: "Appropriate action has been taken so that the investigation can proceed without risk of compromise. Some individuals have been temporarily moved to other Royal Navy establishments while the investigation takes place."

Mr Connell - who manages HMS Raleigh's football team - last month won the Mr Gay Plymouth title at Zero's nightclub.

He is now in the running for the Mr Gay UK trophy at the finals in Blackpool on Friday, September 29.

Mr Connell, originally from Blackburn, has been in the navy in Plymouth for the past six years.