Military Traditions

Every day, there are American citizens who risk their lives for the sake of their country's safety. Men and women who believe that justice, peace, and equality should be served. However, within their beliefs, some choose to exclude transgender individuals who have the same rights and freedoms. The American society considers the world to be progressively changing and growing, however, seem to forget that in order for the military to survive the 21st century, diversity is crucial. Although the medical costs may raise the overall healthcare median per year, transgender individuals should have the right to serve in the U.S. armed forces because any human being who meets the physical qualifications and has a willing attitude should have the right to serve.

The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy is a major policy of the armed forces of the United States, and allows a number of people to serve their country. This policy restricts the United States armed forces from discovering gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy has, in a way, limited homosexuals from completely fulfilling their military duties by forcing them to serve in the military silent about their personal lives. The policy is a violation of equal rights, forces homosexuals to violate the military code of honor, and causes disputes among fellow soldiers and should be repealed.

On February 28, 1994 the Clinton administration passed a United states policy called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This policy allowed gays to serve in the military. However they were not allowed to be openly gay. This policy was created to make an agreement in between the conservatives and the liberals. Although some people might believe that this policy is a good thing, I believe that it is a bad thing because, it is not effective, it pushes people away from the military, and there will be less sexual harassment.

The argument about gays in the military is a very popular one today with the media and politicians alike. Both sides have valid points in this argument we will look at both points of view and try to make an informed decision based on both points of view.

hearing", Par. 1). One might ask why, during this time of combating Islamic terrorist networks and insurgents in Iraq, would the military get rid of people with such valuable talents? The answer is simple: these men and women are homosexual. Gays and lesbians can serve in the U.S. military but only if they keep their sexuality a secret. This is known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and has been in effect since 1993. The United States is one of only a handful of nations

Though the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) on September 20, 2011, marked the end of discrimination based on sexual orientation, it did not address transgender orientation. Per Army Regulation 40-501, individuals are considered medically unfit for service if they have a history of gender identity disorder (no longer a politically correct term, since replaced by gender dysphoria). Military policy prohibits transgender service members (TSM) from openly serving in the military or enlisting. However, this policy has been under review ever since Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter ordered that a working group be created to determine if lifting the ban would have any impact on the military readiness. Allowing TSM to serve openly will impact every aspect of military life, from showering to housing, uniforms to identification, and it will impact female Soldiers significantly and disproportionately more than male Soldiers. Serving in the military is not a right, it is a privilege. No one has offered any military or national security reason why we need to allow transgender persons in the military. It is my recommendation that current military policy be maintained.

When Obama signed the, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010”, it got rid of the original “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Act” that was signed by President Clinton in 1993. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Act”, was not working out as planned. Instead of helping the gay community, it made things a lot worse. In an article written by Lincoln Caplan, he states, “Investigators routinely ask soldiers to name other marines rumored to be gay and threaten them if they don't confess to homosexual acts.” (Caplan n. pag). Sgt. Robert S. Nadel, a marine in the military, was once court-martialled for allegedly doing homosexual acts. For Nadel and many other soldiers like him, the real policy was more like

In this podcast, it focuses on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB) Military Service Members and Veterans. The podcast discussed that it is estimated that there is 1 million veterans or service man that identify as lesbian or gay. How they are allowed to service in the military has changed over time. Around 1993 to 2011 almost 14 thousand people were discharged during the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell”. Their discharged was based on their orientation. The experience was different for the LGBT community then other service members and veterans.

Workplace discrimination in the lgbt community has been an issue since the early 1900’s, but lgbt rights weren’t progressing much until 1990’s. It was not until 1973 that the first federal bill introduced to congress prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation (Badgett, Lau, Sears, & & Ho, 2007). In 1994 the "Don 't ask, don 't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians in the military (Badgett, Lau, Sears, & & Ho, 2007).

Discrimination has become painfully familiar in today’s society. There are some who would argue homosexuality threatens us as a society, and unfortunately these feelings do not end with just civilians with some arguing that homosexuals serving openly in the military threaten unit cohesion and military effectiveness. Although it has been proven that the repeal of the ban on gays in the armed forces would have a minimal negative impact on the military 's effectiveness or unit compatibility, it has not always been this way. This essay, and Frank Pierson’s Soldier’s Girl, shows just how big of an impact the media and film depictions have of society and offers the viewer the opportunity to see the challenges homosexuals have faced when serving in the armed forces.

Homosexuality is a recent issue in our society. This paper will analyze few different topics which come up with the theme of homosexuality. First of all, it will analyze the military approach to the LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) community in various countries around the world. Furthermore, it will explore the topic of Don't Ask Don't Tell policy (DADT) enforced in the 90s in USA.

Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich was a part of the United States Air Force for 12 years, he was a decorated veteran and fought in the Vietnam War, but despite Sergeant Leonard Matlovich pristine record, he was given an honorable discharge. Sergeant Leonard Matlovich was still instated with military benefits and was not ridden of his Bronze Star for bravery and Purple Heart for his injuries in Da Nang. Sergeant Leonard Matlovich put up quite the fight with the United States Air Force, he challenged the ruling and began a five year fight to be reinstated. Sergeant Leonard Matlovich stance towards the United States Air Force gave other homosexual men in the military hope that things would change; however, in November 1980, Mr. Matlovich agreed to drop his efforts in return for $160,000 out-of-court settlement from the Air Force ( Narvaez). Leonard Matlovich worked hard for the United States military it was his whole life, he never married and didn’t have any children, when Sergeant Matlovich was discharged he was left with nothing. The United States Air Force would rather go through the a five year court case then allow a homosexual be in the military. Since the 1900’s men in the military have been fighting for the “anti-gay policy” to be removed. For their efforts many had been discharged, some even committed suicide. Later, in May, 1980 a federal court instructs the United States

Bill Clinton’s military policy in the 1994 National Defense Authorization Act is more commonly referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This policy did not allow the military to ask enlistees if they were gay, but it did stipulate that service members could be subject to dismissal if they came out as being homosexual (Belkin, “Don’t ask, don’t tell”). Before this policy was set into motion, the military had the right to question enlistees about their sexual orientation. With this information, military leaders could choose to reject enlistees if they so wished. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was a step forward for the queer community in the military, but it was not much of one considering the fact that equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community should not

Lately, there has been an outbreak of people of the LGBT community coming out in the military. Historically the United States has had a policy of discharging gays in the military. There has been an act called the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”, it is basically saying that as long as somebody doesn’t ask about your gender preferences, you do not have to tell. Even though the ban has been lifted, many militaries still say they cannot accept anyone from the LGBT inside. They do not care about how well you can perform or your strengths and that mindset is going to come back and hit them in the long run. Militaries that are judging these kids are taking them away from somewhere they feel safe and a place where they can finally belong. Members of the LGBT community find refuge in the military. It was one of the only places where they can prove their worth, where people aren’t focusing on their sexuality. They shouldn’t be judged based on their sexual preferences. Instead, they should be judged on their personality, performance, and their ability to get the job done precisely and correctly.

Our military is deeply rooted in history, and looking back, it is very clear those who served in World War I and even World War II were successful thanks to the laws then preventing females or homosexuals to serve their country in combat. Since then, our military has made changes not only in how to conduct combat operations, but who may serve, and more importantly who may see action in the air and on the ground as first line defenders. During these early periods, our military member’s sleeping quarters were open bay, and the lavatories were also open as well as the showers. Additionally, there was stereotyping occurring and men were to go to combat and the women remained at home and cared for the family and work in the factories to provide supplies to those in combat. Women and homosexuals were able to serve their country, however, for women they were not allowed to fill certain jobs due to the combat requirements of those jobs. On the other hand, men who were homosexuals were serving in all areas and for both male and female homosexuals, they could not identify or tell others their sexual preference, as they would face punishment and then discharged from the military. Just within the past few years, the removal of any Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) and homosexual identity within the Department of Defense is now part of our military history. Eliminating these inequalities within this elite organization continues to make the United States