SAN ANTONIO — Due to a perceived slight against homosexuality, Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk, a Texas Baptist, is in a fight for his career. The first sergeant, stationed at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, was told by his commanding officer to clear out his office Aug. 9.
At issue is Monk’s refusal to reveal to his commander his personal views regarding homosexual “marriage.” His commander, Major Elisa Valenzuela, is reportedly a lesbian. According to a Fox News report, Valenzuela asked Monk to report on disciplinary proceedings for an Air Force instructor under investigation for making objectionable comments about homosexual “marriage” during a training session.
According to Fox News, Monk interviewed the instructor and determined his comments were not intentionally provocative.
Valenzuela asked Monk “if you can see discrimination if somebody says that they don’t agree with homosexual ‘marriage,’” but he declined to answer.
Air Force policy demands silence from homosexual detractors.
Attorney Michael Berry announced Aug. 20 that a formal complaint was filed with the military on behalf of Monk and addressed to Valenzuela. “Unfortunately SMSgt Monk was not free to confidently practice his particular religion,” Berry wrote in the letter. “This is because of your refusal to respect his beliefs, which may differ from yours. … Because SMSgt Monk’s religious beliefs are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution, your conduct constitutes unlawful religious discrimination,” reads the letter.
Monk is being represented by Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal group out of Plano, Texas.
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