Homosexuals in the Military Research Papers
The issue of gay men and women serving in the military is very controversial. Although Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (1993) helps keep the problem out of public view, it doesn’t solve the problem. According to reports of The Atlantic Monthly (2002), an average of three lesbian, gay, or bisexual military service members were dismissed daily. It is clear that the policy fails to protect either the homosexual soldier or the military service. Homosexual military personnel should be treated the same way as any other personnel, no matter male or female. This problem must be discussed frankly in the military and must become intergated into the training every soldier gets. People who want to seclude gays from the military have fears that it undermines the image of the military service. In addition, they argue that it brings about explosive situations in the close quarters of the military service members because sexuality will become unconcealed. Many military personnel have a bias toward homosexuals, or consider them to be vicious or degenerate. This bias creates the environment of disharmony in the ranks. One more popular prejudice is that gays want to seduce other people; this is an unfounded fear based on misinformation and fears about the unknown. Every argument against gays in the military comes from prejudice and demands of morality rather than any documented information. Military couples, no matter homosexual or heterosexual, should get the same benefits if the marriages are sanctioned by law. Those people who are afraid that the typical unmanlike homosexual soldier will undermine the image of the armed forces, should have a look at photos of soldiers and try to find the male and female homosexuals. They will see that this is simply impossible.