Air Force to discharge lesbian officer

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- On second thought, the U.S. Air Force says it will discharge a lesbian officer who openly declared her homosexuality.

Earlier this year an Air Force general decided Lt. Robin R. Chaurasiya revealed her sexual orientation to avoid military service and should not be discharged, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

Chaurasiya said her announcement was intended as a means of confronting what she believed was the injustice of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and was not made to get out of the service.

Monday the Air Force issued a statement saying after reviewing the case the Air Mobility Command has recommended Chaurasiya be discharged.

The reversal came as the military adopts to new guidelines on the removal of gay service members.

"I am kind of heartbroken," Chaurasiya said about the discharge decision. "I felt my situation was hinting at changes."

Chaurasiya is stationed at Scott Air Force base in Illinois.