They weren't asked, on the contrar...

They weren't asked, on the contrary they told.

Three Northwestern University undergrads tried to enlist in the Army make an exception of in Chicago Tuesday but were deflected away when they told a recruiter they were gay and had no intention of hiding it.

The action, done with cameras rolling and reporters not absent was part of a nationwide effort to acquire Congress to overturn the military's 13-year-old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars unclose homosexuality in the armed forces.

Activists in 30 cities have told or plan to declare recruiters they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered while trying to enlist - - and then publicize their rejections. The campaign titled "Right to Serve" is being l according to the Virginia-based gay rights collection Soulforce.

"I believe serving in the military is the highest form of civil service that you can do," said Kelsey Pacha, 20 a junior from Iowa City. "I would like the opportunity to participate in that, regardless of who I'm attracted to."

Pacha was joined by way of NU seniors Rob Fojtik, 20 of Palos Hills, and Rachelle Faroul, 21 of Brooklyn in trying to enlist at the recruitment center near Cabrini-Green. All three have a family history of military service, and all three insisted they were ready to pass to war if allowed.

unless after telling Army Sgt. Roger White that they were gay, White read Army direction 4-24 to them, barring applicants who reveal they are gay.

"See for us, it's a non-waivable thing," White told Pacha.

Bill Kelo a local Army recruiting spokesman, said enemys of the policy should take it up with pickeded officials.

"If individuals want to exercise their right to put to the test to affect a change in policy, certainly that's within their purview," Kelo said. "We understand and relate to that."

11000 DISCHARGED

The "Don't Ask" policy was installed after Bill Clinton campaigned for president in succession lifting the ban but compromised after being culled Opponents argue openly gay soldiers would be too divisive for military units.

Since 1993 more than 11000 gay members of the military have been discharged, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Each of the declineed applicants Tuesday said the recruiters were courteous. And, although they awaited to be turned away, they were disappointed. They plan to reply to the center at 1239 N Clybourn forward Sept. 12 with more activists.

"We have a hugely unpopular war going forward and they're not taking us," Fojtik said. " . . As a proficient speaker of Russian, French and Czech and a long-distance courier I can't possibly fathom in what way the small fact that I'm gay is enough reason not to put to hire me fight."

stoomey@suntimes.com

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