Gays in the Military - 1427 Words

Gays in the Military, is it right? For nearly 50 years, it has been the U.S. militarys official policy to exclude homosexuals from service. In November 1992, President - elect Clinton told Americans that he planned to lift the militarys long - standing ban on gays and lesbians. Homosexual men and women, he said, should not be prevented from serving their country based on their sexual orientation. Soon after taking office in 1993, Clinton faced powerful military and congressional opposition to lifting the ban. General Colin Powell, then - chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Senator Sam Nunn, who was chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee between 1987 an 1994 and left Congress in 1996, announced that they would seek to†¦show more content†¦Throughout the 1980s, concerns about the spread of AIDS further solidified some military leaders opposition to allowing gay people to serve. The directive remained in place until 1994, when it was supersede by the dont ask, dont tell policy. Between 1980 and 1 990, the armed forces discharged an average of 1,500 service members annually because of their homosexuality. Defenders of the dont ask, dont tell policy argue that the military must do what it needs to maintain the strongest possible fighting force. In order to carry out that obligation, they say, military leaders must have the authority and discretion to set rules as they see fit to keep up morale and maintain order. On the issue of gay peoples service, they say, if military commanders maintain that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be detrimental to morale and discipline, then courts and public should respect that decision. Defenders of the ban and of the militarys current policy dispute the notion that military personnel should be afforded the same constitutional protections as civilians. Policy supporters maintain that the military is a unique institution with its own set of rules. Opponents of the current policy believe that while the military may have aShow M oreRelatedGays in the Military 966 Words   |  4 PagesThe United States military isn’t shy when it comes to the issue of gays in the military. When people think of gays in the military they usually compare them to blacks in the military. Most people use this analogy because blacks â€Å"have been oppressed and excluded from the main stream† (John Sibley). During this time period not only were black, and gay excluded from the military but women were also seen as people who didn’t belong in the arm forces. Even thought blacks in the military had to go thru differentRead MoreGays in the Military2022 Words   |  9 PagesGays In the Military Very often political institutions reflect the will of society and set the precedent for norms that will be expected of its members. The United States Military is still enforcing archaic policies which threaten to harm the principles our nation was founded upon. The principles of freedom and equality are those that every American holds closest to their heart, that is unless you are in the military and are gay. The issue of gays in the military has developed into a caseRead MoreGay s On The Military1171 Words   |  5 PagesGay’s in the military 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. Military Historical Policy The Articles of War of 1916 covered the issue of homosexual behavior for the first time, although exclusion was limited to assault with the intent to commit sodomy. A revision of these regulationsRead MoreGays in the Military Essay899 Words   |  4 Pages The subject of Gays in the military has been debated over many times by many people. When dealing with whether or not gays should be allowed in the military the simple question of, Do they want to be in the military?, must be answered. After this question is answered you can begin analyzing the problem. The answer to the question, Do gays want to be in the military?, is an unquestioned yes. Gays would be proud and determined to protect this beautiful country in which we live. I personally am confusedRead More Gays in the Military Essay1362 Words   |  6 Pageshomosexuals from service. In November 1992, President - elect Clinton told Americans that he planned to lift the militarys long - standing ban on gays and lesbians. Homose xual men and women, he said, should not be prevented from serving their country based on their sexual orientation. Soon after taking office in 1993, Clinton faced powerful military and congressional opposition to lifting the ban. General Colin Powell, then - chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Senator Sam Nunn, who was chairmanRead MoreGays in the Military Essay1761 Words   |  8 Pagestell† policy that was put in place in 1993 by congress under President Clinton, in which gays are allowed to serve in the military as long as they do not disclose their sexual orientation. Recently, Obama has made good on his promise of â€Å"change†, and brought the debate on whether or not to repeal the DADT policy to congress and it is currently under review. If the policy is repealed, it would allow for gays to serve openly in the armed forces; which means that not only could they freely discloseRead MoreEssay about Gays in the Military778 Words   |  4 Pages The question of whether or not gays should be alowed in the military is a hotly debated event in curnent politics and their are many arguments for and aginst it. these very arguments give us some insight about where our society is going and how willing we really are to accept others. So now we have two citizens both wanting to join the military and both identical in everyway save the fact that one in straight and one is gay. They both pass all tests with the same score yet one is let in andRead MoreGays in the Military: An Overview of the Issue746 Words   |  3 PagesGays in the military: An overview of the issue One of the most divisive civil rights issues of recent memory revolves around the question of whether gay Americans can serve in the military and be open about their sexual orientation. Until the Clinton Administrations Dont Ask, Dont Tell (DADT) policy, evidence of homosexuality could get a soldier discharged. In fact, there were many jokes during the draft era, particularly during the Vietnam War, of unwilling straight recruits pretendingRead MoreEssay about Sexual Tolerance of Gays in the Military1252 Words   |  6 PagesTolerance of Gays in the Military 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 â€Å"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 beRead MoreWhy Gays Shouldn’t Serve by David Horowitz Essay1054 Words   |  5 PagesIn the essay â€Å"Why gays shouldn’t serve† by David Horowitz he states that â€Å"Don’t ask, Don’t Tell policy is a way of containing the destructive force of sex on a combat capability called Unit Cohesion. (354)† This controversial topic has surfaced more and more recently because Barack Obama wanted to let all people serve in the military, regardless of their sexual orientation. â€Å"More than 1,000 retired flag and general officers have joined us in signing an open letter to President Obama and Congress