HEADLINE: Military plans for a 'gay bomb?'
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CAPTION: The Department of Defense is admitting an activist group's claim that plans for an aphrodisiac-producing bomb were submitted by a laboratory. But, the Pentagon says it was just one idea and was never acted upon. (June 12)
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[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
(random FILE of war, preferably bombs exploding)
in the long history of war, it may have been one of the craziest, downright laughable ideas.....a so-called "Gay Bomb"
SOT: Edward Hammond, Sunshine Project 0:56 GAY BOMB
"The idea was that if soldiers suddenly became irresistible to one another that unit morale and cohesion would break down and the enemy would be unable to resist."
(graphic of the three-page proposal)
the idea of a non-lethal chemical bomb containing aphrodisiac was among nearly 200 proposals the Pentagon received in 1994, this one from an Air Force lab in Ohio
(closeup of the Category 3 idea)
it pitched what it called a distasteful, but completely non-lethal example..especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior.
(Pentagon exterior)
The Defense Department says it had all the ideas reviewed...and that the gay bomb proposal was among those not making the cut
(Pentagon statement)
GRAPHIC:
[Notes:"The DoD never "investigated" such a concept, rather one individual, provided a short concept paper with a wide variety of examples that was rejected therefore, funding was never provided by DoD."]
The Pentagon released a statement saying it never "investigated" the concept ; it was just one individual putting together a concept paper with a variety of examples that were rejected.
(Hammond at computer :00 GAY BOMB)
But, members of California watchdog group Sunshine Project do n't buy that
SOT: Edward Hammond, Sunshine Project 1:10 GAY BOMB
"When the Pentagon says that they rejected this proposal, it's simply not true, and we have the facts to demonstrate that they've continued to think about it and to consider it in the years since it was first raised."
(Castro sign 1:25 GAY BOMB, followed by gay pride flag 2:10 GAY BOMB)
in San Francisco's Castro District, the idea, whether considered or not, was good for some laughs
SOT: Haleah Hoshino, San Francisco resident 1:40 GAY BOMB
"Do they really think that like when faced with guns and being killed that they're really going to choose sex?"
SOT: Thom Yeamans, San Francisco resident
"People still have such a misunderstanding of sexuality in general, not just homosexuality, but sexuality in general that they think it could be used as a weapon. When has that ever worked?
SM, The AP, Wx
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