The largest employer in the United States is the military, providing people, particularly individuals from poor communities, with jobs, education and other benefits. This avenue for employment has been challenged or denied to gays and lesbians in the United States. Although the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy does not allow them to serve openly, more than 36,000 gays and lesbians serve actively in the military. Gay men and lesbians are estimated to represent 2.5 percent of active duty personnel.1.
'Unsuitable for military service'
American military law outlining punishment for homosexual soldiers took effect in 1917 when the Articles of War included "assault with the intent to commit sodomy" as a capital crime. In 1942, the Armed Forces instructed military psychiatrists that "Those who 'habitually or occasionally engaged in homosexual or other perverse sexual practices' are 'unsuitable for military service'." Between 1941 and 1945 nearly ten thousand homosexuals received dishonorable discharges from military service. Since 1945 over 100,000 gay and lesbians have been dishonably discharged.
In 1957 a Navy report, callen the Crittendon Report for the man who headed the committee, concluded that there was "no sound reason for the charge that homosexuals in the military pose a security risk". However, the Pentagon ignored the report for 20 years. During the 60's, gays and lesbians staged demonstrations challenging their treatment by the military. The Vietnam War era saw draft resistors feigning homosexuality to avoid being drafted.
During the Carter administration, gay discharges increased dramatically. In 1981, during the last week of Carter's administration, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Graham Claytor issued a policy stating that "homosexuality is incompatible with military service...The presence of such members adversely affects the ability of the armed forces to maintain discipline;...to facilitate assignment and worldwide deployment of service members who frequently must live and work in close conditions affording minimal privacy; to recruit and retain members of the armed forces; to maintain the public acceptability of military service; and to prevent breaches of security". This policy was implemented by the Reagan administration. 2.
"Don't ask, don't tell"
When Bill Clinton took office as President, he sought to overturn the 1981 ban. However, Congress strongly opposed. In September of 1993 the vote to continue the ban against gays in the military passed in the Senate by votes of 63 to 33, and in the House by 301 to 135. Clinton was forced to accept "Don't ask, don't tell" as a compromise. This represented a continuation of the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, with two stipulations. Subordinates and recruits could not be questioned about their sexual orientation by commanding officers, and gays and lesbians serving should not come out of the closet. 3.
Arguing Against
Those who argue against the normalization of homosexuality in the military contend that:
* discrimination based on sexual orientation cannot be equated to race because sexual orientation outlines changeable and chosen behaviors rather than innate characteristics;
* the presence of gays in the close environment of the military in foxholes, showers, and sleeping quarters invades the privacy rights of heterosexuals;
* the military is not the appropriate place for a 'social experiment';
* straight service members would fear sexual harassment and sexual overtures by openly gay and lesbian service members;
* AIDS will increase with the presence of gay service members and blood transfusions in combat will be made risky; and
* sexual behaviors between gays and lesbians would undermine morale. 4.
Arguing in Support
Gay activists argued against these concerns contending that several scientific studies indicate that there may be a biological link to sexual orientation, and that gay and lesbian inclusion is not a social experiment, as they already work and live with heterosexuals throughout society. Gays and lesbians also serve in the military and discrimination against them is wrong. Gay advocates argue that military regulations already prohibit individual sexual activities and open displays of affection while on duty, and that penalties for inappropriate sexual behaviors are already in effect.5.
The Military in the new Millennium
In 2007, retired Army General, John M. Shalikashvili, spoke out for reconsideration of the ban against openly gay men and women in the military. In noting that President Bush had called for a long-term plan to increase the size of the armed forces, Shalikashvili suggested that the time had come to give the policy serious reconsideration. He noted that in a Zogby poll, three quarters of 500 service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq said "they were comfortable interacting with gay people." He commented, "Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job." 6.
In October of 2009, President Barack Obama spoke at the annual national dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, the US's largest gay rights advocacy group, reaffirming his commitment to end the ban against gays openly serving in the military. Obama had run a campaign strongly supportive of gay rights in society, however gay activists were frustrated at his failure to take up gay rights issues. Obama assured them of his continued support, saying, "My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians, whether in the office or on the battlefield." 7.
By 2009 the military had expelled 12,500 gay service members since 1993 as a result of violations of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. With two wars in progress this was a hard-to-abide consequence. A 2009 Gallup poll based on telephone interviews with 1,015 adults found that 69% of Americans were in favor of allowing openly gay men and lesbians to serve in the military. 8.
BACKLASH to Gays in the Military
The military population is more conservative than the broader population. A Military Times poll of active-duty service members in 2009 showed that 58% opposed any change in the policy toward gays, and 23% might not re-enlist if the "don't ask, don't tell" law is revised.
Decisions to enlist are made around the dinner table. Opponents to such a change contended that allowing gays to serve openly could harm unit cohesion and discourage conservative parents from supporting and encouraging their children to enter a 'gay military'. 9
In response to President Obama's request to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law Senator Carl Levin called a meeting to discuss the issue. Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women For America, sent an urgent request to members to "Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them to keep the current law that prohibits homosexuals from openly serving in the military. If the policy is overturned, it would distract from the critical mission of the military simply to impose a sexual agenda onto society." She contended that, "This is not the time to begin social experimentation in our military. Our armed forces are stretched fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Repealing the 1993 law now will create an undue hardship on our military and their families." 10.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and highest-ranking officer in the armed forces, likes to talk to the enlisted troops and listen to their concerns. In Feb. of 2010, Mullen called for a repeal of the ban as the "right thing to do". Mullen is faced with the possibility of having to ask troops to openly welcome gay men and women. If this becomes a reality, he will be required to act as a mediator between President Obama and the wider cultural scene, advising Obama on what the military and their troops can or cannot accept. 11.
REFERENCES:
1.Urban Institute. "Gay and Lesbian Demographics." 2009. http://www.urban.org/toolkit/issues/gayresearchfocus.cfm. 1/25/10.
2. The Gay Almanac. Compiled by the National Museum & Archive of Lesbian and Gay History. New York: Berkley Books. 1996.:298-311.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Shalikashvili, John M. "Second Thoughts on Gays in the Military." NYTimes.com. January 2,2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/opinion/02shalikashvili.html.
7. McGreal. Chris "Obama renews vow to end ban on gay people openly serving in the military." http://www.guardian.com/uk/world/2009/oct/11/obama-gay-rights-in-the-military. 1/29/10.
8. Ephron, Dan. "Don't Ask Too Fast." Newsweek. Jan 12, 2009. http://www.newsweek.com/id/177723/output/print. 1/29/10.
Jones, Jeffrey M. "Majority of Americans Continue to Oppose Gay Marriage." May 27, 2009. http://www.gallup.com/poll/118378/majority-americans-continue-oppose-gay-marriage. 1/29/10
9. Jones, Ibid.
10. Wright, Wendy. "Support Out Troops-Oppose Weakening Our Military." Concerned Women for America. Feb. 1. 2010.
11.Ephron, Dan. Ibid.
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