{"id":379,"date":"2020-02-24T19:26:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T19:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dh-wordpress.ramapo.edu\/SSI-2020\/?p=379"},"modified":"2020-02-24T19:49:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T19:49:38","slug":"lgbtq-in-u-s-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh-wordpress.ramapo.edu\/SSI-2020\/blog\/2020\/02\/24\/lgbtq-in-u-s-military\/","title":{"rendered":"LGBTQ in U.S Military"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were many waves of LGBTQ movements that started in the 1920s. The 1950s was a generally negative time for LGTBQ. This includes the lavender scare in which Eisenhower fired federal employees if they were homosexual. This was due to the belief that they were connected to communism and were a threat to national security. By the 60s though, there were increasing advancements.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gay Liberation Front march on Times Square in New York, N.Y., 1969.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since then the Stonewall rio<\/a>t happened in 1969, Harvey Milk<\/a>, was the first openly gay man who was elected in California, homosexual marriage was legalized, and it was no longer deemed a mental disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is part of the Army’s official \u2018Don\u2019t Ask Don\u2019t Tell\u2019 Homosexual Policy Comic Book (2001). The poster in the image states Army Regulation 600-20. A basis for discharge exists if 1) The solider is engaged in homosexual acts. 2)The solider has said that he or she is homosexual or bisexual… 3) The solider has married or has attempted to marry a person of the same sex.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the military specifically, before the \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell legislation in 1993 under Clinton, homosexuality was completely illegal in the military due to medical reasons. Eisenhower in the 50s put forth an executive order firing homosexuals from federal offices. Department of Defense claimed that Homosexuality was incompatible with the military and thousands were discharged. Don\u2019t ask don\u2019t tell policy allowed LGBTQ in the military, as long as they did not claim they were homosexual. In 2011, the Don\u2019t ask Don\u2019t Tell policy, or Amry regulation 600-20, was repealed. By 2015 there were an increase in pro-LGBTQ legislation, representation, and attitudes.\u00a0 In 2015, transgender were allowed in the military, but by 2018, Trump reversed this because \u201c<\/span>\u2018accommodating gender transition could impair unit readiness,\u2019 \u2018undermine unit cohesion\u2019 and \u2018lead to disproportionate costs.\u2019 1<\/span><\/p>\n

Sociology has a few lenses in which sociologists can view the world. Two of these theories are the functionalism and the symbolic interactionist theory.<\/span><\/p>\n

The functionalist perspective claims that, whether positive or negative, the social issue exists because it has a function within society. For example, the don\u2019t ask don\u2019t tell policy and the recent anti-transgender law can be explained through this theory because it has a purpose. Many service members argue for anti-LGBTQ laws because \u201c (a) homosexuality is immoral; (b) homosexuality would have adverse effects of cohesion, morale, and good discipline; and (c) the fear of intimate situations with someone of the same gender who may be attracted to them.\u201d 2 Under the functionalist perspective, this social issue exists because military would not function as well with LGBTQ members. One can also look at the opposite side of this claiming that this social issue exists since pro-LGBTQ legislation’s purpose is to get more service members. As for the symbolic interactionist perspective, society is explained by how people interact with each other through symbols. One can say that the constant use of the word faggot between younger men is an example of this. Even if the term is used and is not in reference to homosexuals, by calling each other fags, the theory is fulfilled. Fag is now associated with not only homophobia but also masculinity and identity. If you are a fag, you aren’t a man. The term itself is completely negative and within boys, it is used as a checking system to prevent one from going outside gender norms. The novel, \u201cDude, you\u2019re a Fag: <\/span>Masculinity and Sexuality in High School<\/span>\u201d by C. J. Pascoe goes in-depth about this topic and studies how the term Faggot affects the identity of adolescent boys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n