America’s military has been around since the beginning of this great country. This military has become one of the world 's strongest. The country has an Army, Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force, and a Coast Guard. Those branches don’t include all the people involved in the Reserves, Air National Guard, and the National Guard. As of the 31st of January 2015, America’s military included 1.4 million troops. America’s population has reached a total of over 321 million people. Less than 1 percent of the total population is serving in the military. Of that 1 percent, the LGBT, also known as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, community is involved. Is the LGBT right for pushing to be in the military? America has been involved in …show more content…
The Article of War of 1916 stated that “assault with the intent to commit sodomy” is a capital crime. During World War II, this article was used to discharge homosexual soldiers. Sometimes the discharged soldiers were not engaging in homosexual acts. During the time of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, the military leaders believed that homosexuality was caused by a mental illness. Thousands of recruits were sent home because the recruiter or a doctor found out that the recruit was homosexual. Thousands of people could not join the armed forces during World War II because they were homosexual. During the Vietnam War, many Americans were drafted into the military. Most of the drafted people wanted to find a way to be discharged from the military. Some people used excuses to become unfit for being in the armed forces. Mental health, sight, and sexuality were the main causes for a person drafted to be discharged.
Between the Second World War and the attacks of 9/11, it is estimated that around 100 thousand soldiers were removed from the military service because of their sexual orientation. Many of these discharged servicemen and women have attempted to regain their promised benefits of being in the military. Until more recent times, these attempts for benefits had always failed. From 1983 to 2010, 8,446 Army soldiers were discharged because these soldiers were homosexual. The first discharge of a homosexual soldier
Many homosexuals that served in the Military prior to 2015 had to hide who they were and their loved ones throughout their career. They were forbidden to get married and receive the same benefits as their heterosexual
The issue of gays in the military has been controversial in the United States for many decades. Over these decades there have been many different proposals as to what approach to take in order to handle the situation of homosexuals in the military. However, in 1992 when Bill Clinton was running for President of the United States, he made a promise to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military if he was elected (Washington Post). Bill Clinton followed through with his promise, and in December 1993 he instituted “a defense directive that military applicants should not to be asked about their sexual orientation” (Washington Post). This is now known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was the result
This condemnation eventually led to the introduction of the separation of homosexuals from military service as seen with the neutral blue discharges which were often given to homosexual servicemen starting in 1916 . This neutral discharge was then labeled “general” and “undesirable”, resulting in a less honorable discharge. Discharges concerning men who were found to be guilty in engaging in homosexual acts were severely different than those who were neutrally discharged. If this were the case then you were then dishonorably discharged (“Don't Ask, Don't Tell” - Wikipedia). The current policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Harass, Don't Pursue1, derived from the original 1993 Department of Defense Directive 1332.14 coined Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ensures that any American citizen can participate in the Armed Forces. This policy is a step-up from the usual immediate discharge, however, this is only if the service member does not identify
Karen O. Donovan 's article about military culture explores military tradition, and the impact social changes in society has on the military. These changes included the policy change regarding gays six years ago. At that time gays were acknowledged in the military when the military ended years old
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 does not 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.
If homosexuals are exposed while the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy is still in effect, they could be discharged from the military. The blackmailing of fellow soldier is immoral and unethical and should not be put into practice. Discriminating upon homosexuals is wrong because everyone is equal and should be treated fairly. Soldiers that are discovered doing so should be discharged themselves.
January 20, 1950 – Army Regulation 600-443 is published, identifying three categories of homosexuals. Those deemed to be aggressive are placed in Class I and are subjected to general court-martial. Homosexuals considered active but non-aggressive are placed in Class II and can avoid a court-martial by accepting a dishonorable discharge – or resigning, if they are officers. Personnel professing or exhibiting homosexual tendencies without committing a violation of the sodomy statute are designated "Class III," and can be removed from service under general or honorable discharge.
gays and lesbians from the military. The strange history of DADT begins when the discharging of homosexuals became “official U.S. military policy during World War II”.
The military has dismissed many for the simple being of them being homosexuals, which expresses that they are discriminated for their
The military excludes Transgender individuals from serving because, according to Kayla Quam, “In order to join the military, individuals need to meet the physical and psychological standards listed in the Department of Defense’s Medical Standard for Appointment, Enlistment, or Introduction in the Military Services (‘DoDI 613.03’)” (721). Because of physical and mental exams many transgender individuals choose to keep their abnormalities a secret, forcing them to live a double life. Many are disqualified because of mental and false health issues. For example, “Transgender [people] who have undergone sex-reassignment surgery are disqualified under a medical regulation during the physical exam,” and Transgender individuals who have not undergone “sex-reassignment surgery but identify as transgender are disqualified under the psychological examination” (Ross 190). The military deems Transgender individuals as unfit to serve, but approximately 15,500 transgender individuals are serving in the military and there are 134,200 transgender veterans (Gate and Herman 1). Proving that transgender individuals have served in the military successfully, playing against all odds the military is in fact wrong to classify transgender individuals as unfit to serve.
Even as military officials began to develop the rationale that homosexuals inherent mental and possible physical weaknesses prevented them from functioning in the armed forces, many knew that they could not afford to refuse most of the gay men who were either recruited or enlisted voluntarily. Other gay men were simply able to hide their homosexuality from examiners, managing to slip through the various holes in a new antihomosexual wall being built around the military by psychiatrists. For instance, the 1942 regulation, on military screening standards, defined the homosexual person by contrasting them with the “normal” person and further outlined the significant signs for identifying homosexuality. Listed were only three possible signs for spotting the male homosexual, “feminine bodily characteristics,” “effeminacy in dress and manner,” and a “patulous [expanded] rectum.” These supposed telltale characteristics of homosexuality, knowingly or unknowingly, disregarded masculine gay men, as well as those who were “active” in anal intercourse. In the book, Coming Out Under Fire, Allan Berube writes, “So many gay men were able to hide their homosexuality from examiners, while so many examiners were trying to find ways to let them in, that by the end of the war, after examining nearly 18 million men, the military had officially rejected only 4,000 to 5,000 as
There are 37 nations that allow gays to openly join the military. One fairly recent addition to these nations is the United States. In 2011, David Karaim said “The United States is in the Process of ending it’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy requiring gay military personnel to hide their sexual orientation, joining at least 36 countries that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed services”(Gay Rights). So far, the country has not been attacked due to this and there has been no smiting of the U.S. officials who allowed this. Giving gays job equality does not effect anything greater than where they can find jobs. They are not looking to be given jobs because of the fact they’re gay, they simply wish to not be denied jobs because of their sexual
In 1999, more than 1,000 men and women were discharged from military service due to their sexuality. That number has actually decreased compared to recent years. (Suro NP) Homosexuals were purged from federal employment in 1950, with Bill Clinton updating that policy in 1993 by adding the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy. (Deicher 176) This policy doesn’t work and needs to either be updated again or the ban against homosexuals lifted. Gays should be allowed to fight for the military for employment reasons, the right to fight for one’s country, and because they are no different from anyone else. The fact of the matter is that not even experts can argue in favor of keeping the
Gay people have not always been barred from military service, and in fact, have served in the nation's wars throughout its history. The military's official stance toward gays and lesbians has evolved over time, often in tandem with social change. In the 1920's and 1930's, homosexuality was treated as a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment. That attitude began to change in the early 1940's,
Many individuals were highly gracious at this idea, no matter the negativity that surrounds this topic. When referencing to the article by the New York Times on Ashton Carter’s announcement, he states “Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so. After all, our all-volunteer force is built upon having the most qualified Americans” (Rosenberg, 2016). The article’s point of view perceives an appreciative tone towards the U.S. military members and how much they sacrifice. For their sacrifices, the government is willing to help formulate policies that can open doors to a new tolerance and acceptance towards sexual identity. Through my discovery of this change in policy, I realized how much this will help not only the individuals who are suffering from this condition but it will help the companionship of the military. I struggle with being completely open with my fellow service members because of the tension there was on the topic of sexual identity. After hearing the statements made by both the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Secretary, I felt like I am part of a whole different world now that there is an understanding of the struggles and tolls taken to maintain personal happiness in such a demanding career. Having higher authorities who are able to implement policies amongst the U.S. government who have vital points of views on this controversial