ed ▁controvers y ▁when ▁WM UR - TV ▁in ▁Manchester , ▁New ▁Ham pshire , ▁refused ▁to ▁air ▁it ▁because ▁the ▁station ▁object ed ▁to ▁the ▁images ▁of ▁same - sex ▁cou ples ▁kiss ing , ▁challeng ed ▁president ial ▁hope ful ▁Ross ▁Per ot ' s ▁promise ▁that ▁his ▁administration ▁would ▁not ▁appoint ▁hom osex uals ▁to ▁cabinet ▁posts , ▁and ▁encourag ed ▁les bian ▁and ▁gay ▁vot ers ▁to ▁be ▁ske pt ical ▁about ▁then - c andid ate ▁Bill ▁Cl inton . ▁The ▁pressure ▁on ▁Cl inton ▁resulted ▁in ▁six teen ▁A ID S - specific ▁policy ▁promises ▁from ▁the ▁campaign . ▁Ann ▁North rop , ▁a ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁activ ist ▁and ▁journalist , ▁later ▁said ▁of ▁Pet rel is ' ▁efforts , ▁" Michael ▁did ▁a ▁great ▁job ▁putting ▁our ▁issues ▁on ▁the ▁ag enda ▁during ▁the ▁campaign ." ▁ ▁Se ek ing ▁justice ▁for ▁Allen ▁Sch ind ler ▁ ▁On ▁December ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁Pet rel is ▁noticed ▁a ▁short ▁item ▁in ▁the ▁Washington ▁Times ▁about ▁the ▁October ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁be ating ▁death , ▁in ▁S ase bo , ▁Japan , ▁of ▁Allen ▁R . ▁Sch ind ler , ▁Jr ., ▁a ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁se aman ▁station ed ▁ab o ard ▁the ▁, ▁who ▁the ▁newspaper ▁said ▁may ▁have ▁been ▁gay . ▁When ▁Pet rel is ▁could ▁find ▁no ▁other ▁information , ▁he ▁said ▁he ▁grew ▁susp icious . ▁He ▁believed