Peacock, Justin

Former Petty Officer 3rd Class, U.S. Coast Guard (2001-2003)

Justin Peacock entered the Coast Guard on September 17, 2001. Following basic training, Peacock reported for duty to Cape Disappointment, Washington.

Although Peacock kept his sexual orientation secret, rumors circulated about his sexual orientation. Peacock endured repeated jokes and taunts about his perceived sexual orientation.

The jokes and teasing became progressively worse in the Spring of 2002. In fact, during one night of watch duty, Peacock was repeatedly teased by several other Coast Guardsmen about what they perceived to be his sexual orientation. In response to this incessant mockery, Peacock asked "So what if I am gay?," or words to that effect. Many of the Coast Guardsmen present when this incident occurred later testified that they did not believe that Peacock was making a statement about his sexual orientation and was just trying to sarcastically rebuff the harassment he was enduring.

Later that spring, Peacock's civilian roommate, a man, visited the local military exchange with Peacock. The two were not romantically involved. However, another Coast Guardsman falsely alleged that Peacock was seen holding hands at the exchange with his roommate for approximately two seconds.

During this time, a fellow seaman began repeatedly harassing Peacock, calling him "a stupid faggot" among other things. Peacock reported this harassment to his Executive Officer. Peacock's executive officer admonished the seaman who made that remark, but also inappropriately began an investigation into whether Peacock was gay. The Executive Officer asked the seaman who had harassed Peacock if he had any evidence that Peacock was gay. Peacock's Executive Officer then expanded his investigation, asking other seamen if they had evidence that Peacock was gay.

On August 26, 2002, someone reported the alleged hand-holding incident at the military exchange to Peacock's command.

Based on this report, an officially sanctioned investigation of Peacock began on September 4, 2002. Peacock requested to defend himself before an administrative discharge board. Peacock presented evidence to the Board that he had been investigated in violation of Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security, and United States Coast Guard regulations that, among other things, forbade investigations based on rumors.

Despite testimony contradicting much of the alleged conduct, Peacock lost his case. Peacock was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard on July 31, 2003. One of the grounds for this discharge was that Peacock's alleged act of holding hands with another man was a "homosexual act" under the statute and related regulations.

At the time of his discharge, Peacock had served in the Coast Guard for almost two years. He was promoted from E-3 to E-4 during the investigation into his alleged homosexual conduct, and earned a Boatswain's Mate specialty and several awards and commendations, including the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, and National Defense Service Medal.