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The Closet as Security Risk
The National Security Agency courts openly gay employees.
From The Advocate  October 21, 2008
The Closet as Security Risk

Visitors to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Md., have to pass through three security gates to enter the premises. Should they need to use the restroom inside, an escort must accompany them to the latrine.

Not only did Brian McNaught have to face this foreboding environment, he had to stand up in front of 600 employees of the NSA -- the country’s cryptography and wiretapping agency -- and convince them that making gay jokes hurts their organization.

McNaught earns a living lecturing to companies on how to foster safe environments for LGBT employees. Over the past 34 years he’s spoken to dozens of Fortune 500 companies, but when he visited the NSA in June, it was the first time he lectured to people in fatigues.

“The remarkable thing,” McNaught says, “is you have the NSA bringing a gay speaker to an organization in which half of its employees are civilians and half operate under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ ”

When the NSA’s director of diversity invited him to speak, McNaught said he would do so only if all top-level managers -- civilian and military -- were required to attend. He got his wish. All senior executives, including NSA deputy director John Inglis, were on hand.

Before the lecture, McNaught had lunch with Inglis, who made it clear the agency welcomes gay civilian employees -- but they must be out.

“Being closeted can turn someone into a blackmail target,” McNaught says. “The NSA is worried whether someone with access to national secrets has anything an enemy of the United States could use against them.” Knowing that, McNaught used his presentation to stress the importance of putting gay employees at ease -- no jokes, no gossip -- so that coming out isn’t an issue.

How was he received? “After a three-hour presentation,” McNaught says, “I got a standing ovation.”

Reader Comments

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  • Name: Robin Westgate
    Date posted: 2008-10-01 12:12 PM
    Hometown: Buffalo, NY

    Comment:

    It's too bad they're just now coming to this. I was turned down twice for civilian cryptanalysis/linguist positions with NSA in the '80's (I was fluent in a critical language and proficient in several others). Through an FOIA request, I was able to confirm that the reason they turned me down was my sexual orientation. Back then, they also argued that the closet was a security risk--but if you came out in the interview phase, then they just didn't hire you. Several others in my graduate program were turned down for the same reason. The government lost a lot of talented linguists back then. Ah well, better late than never. This also bodes well for the Navy Arabic linguists who got dishonorables for you-know-what. Can we get them back?


  • Name: Travis L. Peterson
    Date posted: 2008-10-01 2:04 AM
    Hometown: San Antonio, TX

    Comment:

    This is wonderful news, Brian--that you got a standing ovation! I have followed your career and admired you from afar, since I started my own coming out pro-cess in the 1970's. And unknown to you, you were one of my heroes and role mo-dels from afar. When I would get knock-ed down in my own activism, I would say to myself, "If Brian can do this, so can I!" Thanks for being there, and for being yourself! Keep knocking 'em dead--and getting standing ovations! This is dedicated to you, so I hope you see it!


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