Tolerance, Empathy, and Equality
American claims to be the free and the land of the brave. Unfortunately, we still need to do a lot to make sure it is a place equal for everyone. I believe anyone who is able to serve in the military has a right to do so. To truly live up to what America is supposed to be, we have to spread tolerance, have empathy, and fight for equality.
“If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”
[Commencement Address at American University, June 10 1963]”
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My Stance
I fully support arguments for LGBTQ+ in the military. Below are my personal thoughts about this social issue.
Discrimination
Discrimination in the military has been fought against for generations from racial minorities to women. The 2019 department of defense policy is to “use common medical standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction of personnel into the Military Services and eliminate inconsistencies and inequities in the DoD Components based on race, sex, or location of examination when applying these standards.” Three basic things that qualify you for military service list as follows
(1) Free of contagious diseases that may endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization, or may result in separation from the Military Service for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training and initial period of contracted service.
As long as LGBTQ+ members fit under those requirements, they should be allowed in the military. I believe it is a right for everyone applying to the military to be viewed equally
If LGBTQ+ does not harm the military, there is no justification for bans against them, making the rejection of LGBTQ+ service members discrimination and a violation of rights.
Harm to LGBTQ+ Just Trying to Serve their Country
Legislation and discriminatory practices that justify hate and persecution. It causes an increase in mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The bans on transgender and LGBT individuals contribute to a sense of enduring discrimination, fear, and harassment for all minority individuals in the military. How can we say that our military defends freedom and equality if the DoD discriminates based on gender identity or sexual orientation?
No Harm to Military
Unjustified bans on the LGBTQ+ breeds hate, ignorance, and intolerance within the military and America. LGBTQ+ members have served in the military throughout United States history since the American Revolution. By applying bans, the military just loses valuable members.
Studies have been done saying that the LGBTQ+ community harm the military and there are also many studies that say the opposite. The truth is that there is not enough data or openness about LGBTQ+ service members. Something to think about is the fact that without any data, no side can be proven. The justification of bans on LGBTQ+ starting in the 1950s had no real basis in reality. From the information that does exists today, it can be argued that LGBTQ+ pose no considerable harm to military strength, cohesion, or healthcare.
Healthcare
One study found a dramatic difference in health issues for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ individuals in civilians. Due to DADT being repealed only recently, some are looking to non-service members to predict the differences in health care needs. “Studies of LGBT civilians from the general population indicate that there are important health differences between LGBT civilians and non-LGBT civilians. In civilian studies, LGBT individuals consistently show increased stress and psychological vulnerability when compared to their nonLGBT peers Specifically, LGBT civilians have higher rates of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use and abuse compared to non-LGBT individuals”(Goldbach). That being said, “When it comes to health, men are the weaker sex”(Harvard Health Public). One study found “Black, Hispanic, and other/multiple race veterans reported much worse health than White veterans”(Sheean). Factors in life, in biology, differences in socially accepted behavior and discrimination all affect the health of everyone in America. By arguing that LGBTQ+ members are more at risk for certain diseases seems weak compared to this evidence. Saying White men shouldn’t serve because they are at higher risk to “become alcoholics, or to have bladder cancer”(Harvard Health Public) seems like a ridiculous notion to many. Every military service member can have multiple health issues, just because they are different does not mean that they will cost the military a dramatic amount of money. There are also plenty of studies done that have evidence that LGBTQ+ have no extreme differences in medical health. (See the arguments for LGBTQ+ tab). This shows that whatever differences may exist are not so great that it would cause an extensive gap between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+
Unit Cohesion
As for unit cohesion, one study found that when there is acceptance within LGBTQ+ groups there are positive results and unit trust. When there is harassment, however, it seems to negatively impact social relations (Goldbach). Instead of changing negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+, many leaders, legislators, and civilians decided LGBTQ+ individuals had no place in the military. At a glance, one can think this is a logical conclusion and that bans have a function. But, now let’s talk about women. Women have always been in the military, but in different roles than men. They were nurses, prostitutes, and washerwomen until world war 1 when women were allowed to fight. In World War 2, there was such a need for service members, the united states allowed women to actually enlist by 1943. Women, African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and any other minority in the military were just as crucial to the war efforts as their white male peers. Nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform (Nation ww2 Museum). “The contribution of the women of America, whether on the farm or in the factory or in uniform, to D-Day was a sine qua non [indispensable] of the invasion effort”(Ambrose).
Conclusion
Overall I believe that bans targeting a person because of a specific sex, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or disability should not be allowed in the military as long as one meets requirements for service. There is work to be done, but it will not pose a cost anyone. Reforms such as accepting LGBTQ+ in the military are just steps to make America more equal.