| Abstract |
In 1994 a policy change in the Department of Defense forever changed the way that gays and lesbians would be treated while serving in the military. The new policy essentially lifted the ban on homosexuals but kept the ban on homosexual activity. The initial dispute was that homosexuality presents an unacceptable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline; however, many believed the military was being discriminatory and losing well-trained members by kicking out homosexual service members. Now, over a decade later, where nearly all branches of the military have been engaged in the Global War on Terror, the policy effective or does it short the military of skilled members? Is the policy now increasingly important because being a brother in arms is fundamentally important for this tempo or it inconsequential? The history of the policy, more commonly known as the don t ask, don t tell got its start in 1992 when then presidential hopeful Bill Clinton promised he would lift the ban on gays and lesbians in the military if elected President. This was in response to the 1981, Department of Defense policy which stated that homosexuality is incompatible with military service (DOD Directive 1332.14, January 28, 1982, Part 1, Section H). (University of California, Davis) Then a report in 1992 by the Government Accounting Office (GAO) revealed that nearly 17,000 men and women were discharged under the category of homosexuality in the 1980s. The findings along with several highly politicized gay bashings spurred on Clinton s push to have a new policy instituted if elected. The move garnered the support of many ousted from the ranks for being either gay or lesbian, like former Army colonel, Margarethe Cammermeyer. Clinton saluted Cammermeyer once in a town hall meeting as he addressed the problem with the ban. |
