Navy veteran acknowledges he's gay

Former Master Chief Petty Officer Timothy McVeigh said he is free to disclose his sexual orientation now because he retired from the Navy at the end of August.

"I didn't really see it as an issue because my case was really about privacy on the Internet," McVeigh said during a panel discussion on Internet privacy rights at the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association convention.

The AOL profile identified a "Tim" from Honolulu and included among his hobbies "collecting pictures of other young studs." Navy officials, who were alerted to it, called AOL and were given McVeigh's name.

McVeigh, an 18-year veteran who had never disclosed his sexual orientation, sued the Navy to win reinstatement, saying it had no evidence he engaged in homosexual activity.

A federal judge in January ordered him back to his old rank and salary, then later made the Navy put him back in his old position as senior enlisted member on board a nuclear submarine. The Navy subsequently reached a settlement with McVeigh allowing him to retire with full military benefits even though he did not serve 20 years.

Bill Burrington, America Online's vice president of public policy, said during Friday's panel that it was a mistake for the company to give Navy investigators the information.

He said the company has learned from the experience and reached a monetary settlement with McVeigh. Neither side would disclose the terms.

McVeigh said he has moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where he plans to write a book on his experience and find a new career.

McVeigh is no relation to the convicted Oklahoma City bomber with the same name.

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