Inside the Ring

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NSA sex month

Political correctness continues to assert itself within U.S. intelligence. The supersecret National Security Agency, which conducts electronic eavesdropping around the world, is no exception.

NSA notified its 40,000 employees this week that June is National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

"During this time, we are going to increase our awareness of sexual orientation as it relates to the workplace," Michael O'Hara, director of NSA's office of diversity management, said in an e-mail. "Everyone has a sexual orientation -- be it heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. There will be opportunities throughout June to meet some of our employees who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT); to hear about their experiences in the work environment; and to learn of their contributions to our missions' successes."

Not everyone at NSA agrees with the politically correct effort. Some members of the agency question whether NSA should be promoting the homosexual agenda.

The disclosure of NSA's efforts comes as the agency is about to get stripped of major funding power.

A provision in the fiscal 2004 defense authorization bill would take away NSA's power to build major electronic intelligence systems that cost more than $115 million. It would transfer the authority to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition.

The move is part of an effort by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to limit NSA's budget power.

The agency's budget is classified, but it consumes a major portion of the annual $35 billion intelligence budget.