Lesbians in Uniform During World War II

Paper Summary:

A detailed history of the many ways in which lesbians served in the United States military during World War II. The paper discusses the relaxed policies at the onset of the war that allowed gay women to enlist, the social climate and obstacles of enlisted lesbians, and the gradual implementation of procedures to search out and discharge enlisted lesbians as the war neared its end.

From the Paper:

"If women's history in the United States is often overshadowed by the history of the male gender, lesbian women's history may very well be looked over altogether. Though existing on the fringes of mainstream society, and not acknowledged in most official records, women and lesbians have had a long, accomplished, patriotic career in the United States military. But World War II was a defining moment for gays and lesbians in uniform. As their community was forming and gaining visibility in civilian life, gays and lesbians in the military were singled out as undesirables for the first time, not because of any sexual acts that were engaged in, but because of the very nature of their orientation. The era prior to the start of World War II had been a tumultuous roller coaster in the political and social history of the United States. Women who had once been politically disenfranchised and relegated to the realm of wives and motherhood, now had the right to vote, an increasing presence in the workforce, and a greater independence from the necessity of marriage and domesticity. Relationships were now not solely dependent on practical needs, but were based on mutual interests, romance, and emotional connections. As advancements had been made for women in their personal lives, so too had they in military service."

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