In October, 1996, a DOD official ordered the lesbian and gay youth support group to stop meeting at a Pentagon-operated high school in Japan. He cited the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in support of the order. The youth were devastated, and a supportive teacher called Lambda for help. Lambda, on their behalf, demanded that the Pentagon end the discriminatory treatment and reinstate the group.

Lambda argued that DOD has consistently claimed that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is justified and applies only in the "unique circumstances of military life," not to any DOD-related civilian population. Congressperson Barney Frank (D- Mass.) wrote in support of the effort to reinstate the group.

In October, 1997, the General Counsel of the United States Department of Defense announced new "group counseling protocols" that establish non- discriminatory ground rules, allowing for lesbian and gay youth support groups, and other such groups, in the Pentagon's civilian high schools worldwide. After following the new protocol, the Okinawa group now has been reinstated.

"The group's counselor has just confirmed that the group is indeed safely in place again," said David Buckel, one of Lambda's attorneys on the case. "I got a note of thanks from the group this week, and one student said, 'This group helped me find out who I am, and now I'm finding out who I can be.'"

"Especially so far from home, young gay and lesbian people need support to cope with discrimination and harassment," added Buckel. "This group, led by a teacher and a counselor, helps build self-esteem and enables the students to get the most out of their DOD education. Harming young people whose parents are in the military certainly cannot be justified by the harsh Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law that applies to service members."