REMINDER: UNCLASS/FOUO AND CUI ARE NOT AUTHORIZED ON THIS SITE

• Home
• About Us
• What's New
• Topics
  • Security Clearances
  • PSAB Process
    • Adjudication Process
    • CCF
    • Letter of Intent (LOI)
    • Responding to an LOI
    • Letter of Determination (LOD)
    • Methods of Appeals
    • DOHA
    • PSAB
  • Adjudication Guidelines
    • Ajudicative Guidelines
    • Allegiance to the United States
    • Foreign Influence
    • Foreign Preference
    • Sexual Behavior
    • Personal Conduct
    • Financial Considerations
    • Alcohol Consumption
    • Drug Involvement
    • Psychological Conditions
    • Criminal Conduct
    • Handling Protected Information
    • Outside Activities
    • Use of Information Technology Systems
• FAQs
• Publications
  • National Authorities
  • PSAB Stats
• Links
• Contact Us

Sexual Behavior

The Concern: Sexual behavior is a security concern if it involves a criminal offense, indicates a personality or emotional disorder, may subject the individual to coercion, exploitation, or duress, or reflects lack of judgment or discretion.
* Sexual orientation or preference may not be used as a basis for or as a disqualifying factor in determining a person's eligibility for a security clearance.  

Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:
1. Sexual behavior of a criminal nature, whether or not the individual has been prosecuted;
2. Compulsive or addictive sexual behavior when the person is unable to stop a pattern of self-destructive or high-risk behavior or that which is symptomatic of a personality disorder;
3. Sexual behavior that causes an individual to be vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or duress;
4. Sexual behavior of a public nature and/or that which reflects lack of discretion or judgment.  

Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
1. The behavior occurred during or prior to adolescence and there is no evidence of subsequent conduct of a similar nature;
2. The behavior was not recent and there is no evidence of subsequent conduct of a similar nature;
3. There is no other evidence of questionable judgment, irresponsibility, or emotional instability;
4. The behavior no longer serves as a basis for coercion, exploitation, or duress.
* The adjudicator should also consider guidelines pertaining to criminal conduct and emotional, mental and personality disorders in determining how to resolve the security concerns raised by sexual behavior.