End of DADT ends history of discrimination

As of 12:01 p.m. EST this past Tuesday, the military policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) was officially repealed and ended. Now, persons serving in the U.S. Armed Forces need no longer conceal their homosexuality identity or worry about being kicked out for their orientation.

For much of America’s history, the idea of homosexuals serving in the Armed Forces was considered incompatible with the standards and values of the military.

One of the earliest reports of expelling homosexuals from the military (then labeled as “sodomy”) was during the American Revolution, under the command of General George Washington. The accused was Lieutenant Frederick Gotthold Enslin, in Valley Forge in  1778. According to Washington, Enslin was to be tried “for attempting to commit sodomy.” In March of 1778, he was drummed out (dishonorably discharged) from the Continental Army.

There is little record of LGBT issues in the 19th century, though during the 19th and 20th century the issue was largely dealt with by court-martials, whereby the accused “sodomizers” were dishonorably discharged.

Due to the heavy demand for soldiers in WWII, the military stopped issuing dishonorable discharges in favor of what was called a “blue discharge.” Though technically neither honorable nor dishonorable, the blue discharge nevertheless came with a negative association and holders of such discharges were denied by the Veterans Administration the benefits of the G.I. Bill.

From 1940 to around 1981, the military had “pre-screenings” to detect homosexual individuals and prevent their induction. However, homosexuals who desired to serve were still able to get by, while on the other hand some heterosexuals pretended to gay to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War.

In 1993, as a compromise to the conservative members of the government, President Clinton approved the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, whereby homosexuals could serve as long as they kept their sexuality secret.

Now in 2011, the outdated and homophobic policies of the past are gone, and it is a great day for those who desire to protect and serve our nation.