Homosexuals in the Military

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer eplains that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) is a military policy where gay, lesbian and bisexual members are required to keep their sexual orientation private and not engage in any sexual activities or conduct that would purport a homosexual lifestyle. This paper analyzes how this policy has failed to integrate homosexuals in the armed forces and has instead exacerbated the issues surrounding the gay ban in the US armed forces. The writer maintains that the DADT, irrespective of whether it had good intentions, has failed. The writer concludes that there is a need for changes in the United States Constitution if gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or transgender are to be integrated in the armed forces, since Congress has the power to deny individuals these rights.

Outline:
Introduction
A Brief History: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass
The Failure of the DADT Policy

From the Paper:

"The United States is considered one of the most economically advanced countries in the free world; however, they are lagging when it comes to changing policies that stand to benefit the overall economy. As stated by Belkin, increasing amounts of countries are allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the armed forces. Belkin shows that Australia, Canada, Israel, and Britain reversed its gay ban and have transitioned into countries that now have service members that are integrated into the armed forces, irrespective of sexual orientation. Unlike popular anti-gay individuals speculated there was no mass upheavals or unstable periods, when the gay ban was reversed, in fact many homosexuals still preferred not to share the fact that they were gay. With the DADT policy in place, it is unlikely that the United States will ever come close to the removal of gay bans in the armed forces as these countries have."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Belkin, Aaron. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Is the Gay Ban Based on Military Necessity"? Parameters. Summer (2003): pp 108-19.
• Human Rights Campaign. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass". January 12, 2007. Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http://www.hrc.org/Content/NavigationMenu/HRC/Get_Informed/Issues/Military2/Fact_Sheets_Dont_Ask_Dont_Tell/Dont_Ask,_Dont_Tell_Fact_Sheet.htm
• Ray, Elaine. Don't Ask, Don't Tell a Bad Deal for Gays in the Military, Halley Says. Stanford Report [Online]. September 29, 1999. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://dont.stanford.edu/commentary/halleyinterview.htm
• Raggio, Alexander. Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Be: A Philosophical Analysis of Gay Ban in the US Military. United States Military Academy. August 2006. Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http://www.gaymilitary.ucsb.edu/Publications/2006_08-RaggioDADTDB.pdf

More papers on Homosexuals in the Military:

• Argumentative Essay # 93425 : "Gays in the Military"
• Argumentative Essay # 126444 : "Gays in the Military and Discipline"
• Essay # 67516 : "Ethics in the Military"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: