Through the Years. . .
The topic of homosexual/bisexual persons serving in the military and armed forces has virtually always been an issue of debate. Even as far back as the 14th century, the Knights Templar were persecuted and burned at the stake for participating in homosexual conduct. In 1816 during the time of the Napoleon Bonaparte wars, four men aboard the British ship H.M.S. Africaine were hanged for homosexuality. Even General George Washington discharged a soldier for engaging in homosexual acts in 1778. 
In 1992 during his presidential campaign, Bill Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays in the military, which plan the majority of Americans opposed as well as senior military officials. When he entered the White House, Clinton failed to deliver his promise and Congress passed a law to keep openly homosexual men and women from serving in the military. It did however allow gays to serve as long as they kept their sexual orientation quiet. This law, originally called the Military Personnel Eligibility Act of 1993, is known today as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and has been responsible for discharging over 13,500 service members. It’s 17-year span came to an end in December of 2011 when the bill to repeal DADT passed in the House 250-175.
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Facts about Don't Ask, Don't Tell
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A Brief Timeline
-1950 - Over 60 years ago, President Harry S. Truman signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This document set up discharge rules for homosexual service members and states that “the prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service.”
-In 1982, President Ronald Reagan stated in a defense directive that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” Military personnel who engaged in homosexual acts or stated that they were homosexual or bisexual were discharged from the service.
-1992 – A campaigning Bill Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays in the military
-“Don’t ask, don’t tell” was introduced as a compromise in 1993 with Congress later adding a bill that requires military servicemen and women to adhere to Reagan’s defense directive. Later that year, Clinton issued his own defense directive that those applying for military duty should not be asked their sexual orientation.
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Facts about Don't Ask, Don't Tell
-DADT has meant the dismissal of thousands of service members, many of whom are critical to today's wars, including those speaking international languages.
-DADT has come at serious financial cost to the military.
-DADT sends the wrong signal to young people interested in military service - straight or gay.
-There is strong bipartisan support among Americans for repealing DADT. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military,' says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
-Strong support of the repeal also comes from current and retired military leaders alike
- Overwhelming evidence is that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal will not negatively affect U.S. military.
- A 2006 study conducted by the Center for American Progress Survey of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans showed that: "When asked whether they were comfortable in the presence of gays and lesbians, three-quarters (73%) of those surveyed said they were either somewhat comfortable (44%) or very comfortable (29%). Less than one-in-five (19%) stated that were uncomfortable, and of that group, only 4 percent identified themselves as being very uncomfortable." [CAP, 2006]
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A Brief Timeline
-1950 - Over 60 years ago, President Harry S. Truman signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This document set up discharge rules for homosexual service members and states that “the prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service.”-In 1982, President Ronald Reagan stated in a defense directive that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” Military personnel who engaged in homosexual acts or stated that they were homosexual or bisexual were discharged from the service.
-1992 – A campaigning Bill Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays in the military
-2003, former US president Bill Clinton calls for an end to DADT, declaring in a written statement to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that “there is no evidence to support a ban on gays in the military.”
-2008 – Presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigns on a full repeal of the ban
-In May of 2010, the House and Senate committee approved an amendment to the annual defense spending bill that would end the ban with a provision that change would wait to take place until the Pentagon conducted a study to see it would affect the armed forces’ military readiness. The amended legislation passed the House but was later rejected by the senate. The study’s results were then released on November 30, 2010 concluding that gays serving had low risk on the military’s effectiveness.
-December 9 2010 - Senate Republicans blocked the vote repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban, but just days later on December 18 2010, the senate voted 65-31 to repeal the law.
Sources:
http://www.nsnetwork.org
http://www.web.mit.edu
http://www.time.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
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Images from http://www.googleimages.com
