Gays In The Military

Essay # 64317

Gender and Sexuality > Homosexuality
Political Science > Government Agencies

Examines the issue of homosexuality in the United States army.

1,118 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

To address the problem of gays in the military, policies such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" were instated, even though they ultimately failed to serve the cause of protecting gays in the military. This paper argues that having homosexuals in the military is a matter of military effectiveness - not of the homosexuals' ability to perform military duties, but of the morale of the military as a whole.

From the Paper:

"At the time, homosexuality was viewed as a medical/psychiatric condition, and thus the military wanted to help its soldiers. Rather than just continuing to punish service members for individual acts of "craziness", the military decided to exclude those people who were inclined to commit such acts in the first place, thus avoiding penalties with heavier punishments, if they came out and said they were gay. As society and the military came to be more understanding about homosexuality, an amendment became necessary."