by Lynette Alice

Created on: March 14, 2009   Last Updated: August 21, 2009

While most Americans are aware of the current Don't Ask/ Don't Tell - Don't Harass/Don't Pursue (DADT/DHDP) Policy which was put in place during the Clinton administration, very few are aware of the real history of gays in the U.S. military. Like many other minority groups, gays have a somewhat interesting albeit sad history at ties in regards to service of the nation, The one thing we do know is true is that gays have been in the military since the First Continental Army was raised, and have likewise been arbitrarily removed from service depending on the needs and individual views of commanders.

When the First Continental Army was Raised there was no law prohibiting the enlistment or service of fay men. The general sentiment was every able body was needed and any man that was willing to fight for America was welcome. The only regulation in regards to homosexual activity in fact was the sodomy law which was present in the laws of each colony at the time. Numerous known gay men served and so long as their sexual orientation did not bother their commander it was something that was generally overlooked. In 1778 Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin was the first American serviceman discharged from service for a homosexual act, or perhaps it may be more accurate to say he was the first dismissed on those grounds. As this was a serious civil criminal offense, it is believed others were relieved of duty as well for this, but under more expedient grounds, or less sever charges as a favor to higher ranking officials so that controversy and potential embarrassment could be avoided.

This policy saw no change throughout each American conflict including World War I as it was not necessarily believed that being homosexual was a detriment to an individuals ability to serve nor unit morale. As in previous conflicts, during WWI, the general consensus of thought was able and willing was all that was necessary to enlist. Men continued to be discharged under the sodomy law, often without trial and at times without much more than the word of a single individual as proof, but for the most part commanders set their own guidelines. During WWI, the need for capable soldiers far outweighed any perceived shortcoming of an individuals sexuality.

While gay soldiers were becoming less accepted for reasons that today most historians can only theorize about, it wasn't until World War II that actual policies toward gay soldiers were developed. While African American soldiers were finding their

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>