Photo by Gio via SFGN
The
South Florida Gay news reports
that "Midshipman Andrew Koch, a FabScout model known as Patrick Hunter, is in the third year of a four-year scholarship service contract with the Navy."
Koch is appealing the decision with the hopes that the Navy will allow him to remain in the ROTC program, writing that he "never meant to disrespect the Navy, never appeared in uniform, and never associated his private work in pornography with the Navy in any way."
Upon learning that he would be discharged, Koch contacted SFGN Publisher Norm Kent, who is also a first amendment and civil rights attorney, and, according to th epaper, "has previously represented gay servicemen discharged under the now fallen 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' provisions of the U.S. military."
Turns out this could be a Florida campaign tool if anyone wanted to make it so, since Koch told SFGN that he decided to pursue a pornography career to raise funds because he was experiencing financial hardship, after being placed on a leave of absence from the NROTC for medical reasons.
"I was not at all ashamed of
gay sex
," Koch told the paper, who has previously
identified as straight
on porn sites. "I just needed to support myself. It was never my intention to bring any discredit to the service. I never correlated my private conduct with my public service. I saw a disconnect between the two."
If all comes to pass, Koch could really be feeling the hurt of his bill since he would also be liable to return all tuition, fees, and educational expenses incurred during his tenure, "which could total nearly $26,000."
