Matthew Now

LGBT in the Military

In America sodomy has been illegal since the revolutionary war. In World War Two the military started screening for homosexuality, which sent them to a hospital. They were examined and discharged. In 1947 the policy changed. Those who were gay, but did not have sex where discharged, those who were gay and had sex were dishonorably discharged (Bérubé). During Vietnam, when recruits started getting low, they started to allow the LGBT to join. In the 1970s and 1980s many gay service men and women who were discharged appealed and gained public knowledge. In 1991 the Military Freedom Act got rid of the ban and allowed LGBT to join the armed forces. In 1993, during Clinton’s term, the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” Act, DADT, was passed stating that military LGBT should not be openly gay and Officer had no right to ask military personnel if they were gay. In 2010, during Obama’s term, the DADT was repealed allowing openly gay men and women to join the Armed forces. Today it is still an issue that is debated. During a republican debate the audience booed a US soldier when they asked a question about the repeal of DADT and the candidates did not do anything (New York Times). A few days late Obama said, “You want to be commander and Chief? You can start by standing p for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it is not politically convenient” (Los Angeles). Since the revolutionary war, America has had policies dealing with gays in the military. It has been on both sides, to allow them and to not allow then. It has even allowed them as long as they don’t tell anyone. The issue is should they be allowed? Can they serve our country like everyone else? Some would even ask is it right? Early on in people thought of homosexuality as being a sickness that could be cured. The military did not allow both mentally and physically sick people to join the military. These are the reasons why people are arguing for and against this issue. There are other reasons why people are arguing against it, these include religion and family. Two big organizations that are for gays in the military are gay pride and Outserve. Gay pride is a stance within the gay community for several rights including marriage, adoption and military rights. In the months after the repeal of DADT many of the military institutions, such as West Point, added gay pride and LGBT organizations. These organizations are not only run by students, but are now officially recognized by their respective Universities or institutions. “OutServe is the association of actively-serving LGBT military personnel that launched on July 26, 2010. With more than 4,500 members and 45+ chapters worldwide, it is the one of the largest LGBT employee resource groups in the world. OutServe works to support a professional network of LGBT military personnel and create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.” Outserve is similar to gay pride and other organizations in terms of beliefs in the LGBT community. The only difference is that it is comprised entirely of active military members, removing any question of their patriotism or contribution to the United States (thus making them a powerful political presence in the ongoing debate between pro/anti military LGBT). On the other side there are many religious and political organizations that are against Homosexuality in the armed forces. One organization is the Coral Ridge Ministries in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They are opposed to it because it makes children want to experiment with homosexuality. Ministries believe that “a loss of stability in communities, with a rise in crime, sexually transmitted diseases and other social pathologies. Still another is a shortage of employable, stable people.” They believe homosexuals are unstable and poor influences on our children. Another notable organization against homosexuality in the