The Paper

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 In 2010, during Obama’s term, the DADT was repealed allowing openly gay men and women to join the Armed forces.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...