The Military: Homosexuality In The Military

Homosexuality, for decades, was not accepted in the military. They would be punished if their secret became uncovered, and eventually discharged. In 1992, Bill Clinton made it possible for gays to join, but they could not discuss their sexual orientations, in accordance with the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. If their secret came out, they would face a negatively impacting discharge, still. December of 2010 was the biggest accomplishment for homosexuals involved in the military, with the repeal of DADT, allowing homosexuals to openly serve in the United States Armed Forces.

In World War I, homosexuals that were found to have engaged in homosexual acts were disciplined and then discharged from the military. There was not a specific policy against

Towards the end of the war, as the needs for soldiers decreased, investigations on possible homosexuals in the military were conducted. The individuals found to be homosexual were prosecuted under the Articles of War and they were put into “Queer Stockades”, which were mental hospitals. These individuals were relieved of their duties and soon discharged from the military, by acts of Congress. They were stamped with certain psychiatric discharges that barred them from receiving any type of veteran’s

Restrictions may have been lightened, but policies still remained. Bill Clinton made promises to lift the ban on homosexual’s ability to serve in the military, if he was elected in 1992. Bill Clinton did win the presidential election and became the 42nd president of the United States. He attempted to keep his promise, to lift the ban on homosexuals serving in the military, but he faced extreme opposition from military leaders and politicians. There was a policy made up that supported President Clinton’s initial promises, but it never ended up getting passed. Instead, in 1993, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy was passed and enacted. The DADT policy did lift the ban on homosexuals serving in the military, but a homosexual was not entitled to expose their sexual orientation. Their sexual orientation must remain private, or they could be susceptible to discharge. There was no argument on homosexuals not being effective as soldiers, but the argument was made that being openly gay could affect unit cohesiveness. The Army Chief of Staff, General Gordon R. Sullivan was opposed to allowing gays, stating that “cohesion is enhanced by uniformity, by adherence to a common sense of values and behavior. The introduction in any small unit of a person whose open orientation and self-definition is diametrically opposed to the rest of the group will cause tension and disruption.” Military leaders had a