Can you be gay in the military
The Pentagon has reached a historic legal settlement with more than 35, gay and lesbian military veterans who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation, and in many cases denied an honorable discharge and the array of services they had earned, CBS News has learned.
Under the terms of the agreement, veterans whose discharge papers reference their sexual orientation as a reason for their separation from the military can now avoid a cumbersome legal process and be re-issued paperwork that eliminates any reference to their sexuality. If they were denied an honorable discharge, they will also be eligible for an immediate upgrade review, the agreement says.
"When I was discharged because of my sexual orientation, I felt that my country was telling me that my service was not valuable – that I was 'less than' because of who I loved," said Sherrill Farrell, a U.S. Navy veteran who was a plaintiff in the case. "Today, I am once again proud to have served my country by standing up for veterans like myself, and ensuring our honor is recognized."
The settlement, which still m
LGBT+ rights in the Armed Forces
A History of Injustice: LGBT+ Veterans and the Armed Forces Ban
Until the year , it was illegal to be openly gay in the British Armed Forces.
You could fight for your nation. You could lay down your life. But you couldn’t like someone of the same sex.
The ban on LGBT+ people serving in the military didn’t just deny people the right to serve with dignity—it ruined lives. Veterans were criminalised, dismissed without honours, stripped of medals, lost their pensions, and their reputations. Some were imprisoned. Many more suffered in silence.
This shameful chapter in British military history lasted far too long. But thanks to the bravery of those who stood up and spoke out—often at great personal cost—the tide began to turn.
The Red Arrows fly over Trafalgar Square London during London Pride - Cpl Adam Fletcher
From Discrimination to Legal Battle
The ban was rooted in outdated criminal laws, dating back to the Labouchère Amendment, which made male homosexual acts a criminal offence. Despite chan
The Military Gay Ban: Why Don&#;t Ask, Don&#;t Tell Don&#;t Work
In the months of controversy since President Bill Clinton pledged to end the military's ban against homosexuals, this ill-considered concept has been widely rejected. It is clear that the campaign to allow homosexuals to assist openly in the armed forces is failing. Last week, following an exhaustive study, the Pentagon once again concluded that "homosexuality is incompatible with military service."
The same study nevertheless proposes a policy that allows homosexuals to serve if they keep their lifestyle private. Dubbed "don't inquire, don't tell," it is unclear if the policy has the support of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn, who is holding hearings to resolve whether the current ban should be upheld, altered, or abolished. "Don't ask, don't tell" is a compromise that would prohibit recruiters from screening homosexuals at the point of enlistment, and might restrict the services' ability to investigate evidence of homosexuality. Either way, the armed services would be disrupted as commanders scrambl
Repeal of "Don&#;t Ask, Don&#;t Tell"
The discriminatory "Don't Verb, Don't Tell" ban on gay and lesbian service members is officially in the dustbin of history. For 17 years, the law prohibited qualified gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the armed forces and sent a message that discrimination was acceptable.
The Introduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
In , the U.S. adopted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as the official federal policy on military service by lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. The rule was discrimination in its purest form and prevented service members from being openly queer without threat of being discharged. DADT was based on the false assumption that the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals in any branch of the military would undermine the ability of people to carry out their duties. Over the course of the policy’s life, thousands of brave service members were discharged simply for who they were and whom they loved.
Ensuring Justice for Service Members Everywhere
HRC made repealing DADT a top priority — and public se