Can you be gay in the army
The Pentagon has reached a historic legal settlement with more than 35,000 queer and lesbian military veterans who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation, and in many cases denied an honorable discharge and the array of services they had earned, CBS News has learned.
Under the terms of the agreement, veterans whose discharge papers reference their sexual orientation as a reason for their separation from the military can now evade a cumbersome legal process and be re-issued paperwork that eliminates any reference to their sexuality. If they were denied an honorable discharge, they will also be eligible for an immediate upgrade review, the agreement says.
"When I was discharged because of my sexual orientation, I felt that my territory was telling me that my service was not valuable – that I was 'less than' because of who I loved," said Sherrill Farrell, a U.S. Navy veteran who was a plaintiff in the case. "Today, I am once again proud to include served my land by standing up for veterans fond of myself, and ensuring our honor is recognized."
The settlement, which still must collect approval from a federal judge, would resolve the claims from a collective of LGBTQ+ vetera
Armenia and Azerbaijan:
Cross Views on Army and Homosexuality
Being Queer and in Military Service
“I was wondering how to cover it [homosexuality]. And the more I thought about that, the more I realized that I wouldn’t make it during the two-year stint. I even thought about suicide.” Hayk, a 21 year old trainee, sits on a bench in a park in the center of Yerevan (his name has been changed for this article). He’s lost in a fog of memories. He remembers what he felt weeks before leaving dwelling for military service.
“I heard many things about the way they treat gays in the military. I was warned that they pound people like me,” he said.
Hayk realized that he was gay at the age of 17. He never fully told the truthfulness to his parents, although he made it clear to his mother.
“She still thinks it’s temporary and that one day I could be cured,” he said with a slight smile on his face.
For him, things got worse when he reached the age required to enlist in the Armenian armed forces. In 2016, he found himself among new soldiers, all 18 years old, who were drafted for two consecutive years.
Since 1992, military service has been obligatory for Armenian male citizens between the ages of 18
LGBT+ rights in the Armed Forces
A History of Injustice: LGBT+ Veterans and the Armed Forces Ban
Until the year 2000, it was illegal to be openly male lover in the British Armed Forces.
You could fight for your nation. You could lay down your life. But you couldn’t like someone of the same sex.
The ban on LGBT+ people serving in the military didn’t just deny people the right to serve with dignity—it ruined lives. Veterans were criminalised, dismissed without honours, stripped of medals, disoriented their pensions, and their reputations. Some were imprisoned. Many more suffered in silence.
This shameful chapter in British military history lasted far too long. But thanks to the bravery of those who stood up and spoke out—often at great personal cost—the tide began to turn.
The Red Arrows fly over Trafalgar Square London during London Pride 2019 - Cpl Adam Fletcher
From Discrimination to Legal Battle
The ban was rooted in outdated criminal laws, dating back to the 1885 Labouchère Amendment, which made male homosexual acts a criminal offence. Despite changing attitudes and partial decriminalisation in 1967, the military exemption remained.
The Military Gay Ban: Why Don't Ask, Don't Say Don't Work
In the months of controversy since President Bill Clinton pledged to end the military's ban against homosexuals, this ill-considered idea has been widely rejected. It is clear that the campaign to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces is failing. Last week, following an exhaustive study, the Pentagon once again concluded that "homosexuality is incompatible with military service."
The same investigation nevertheless proposes a policy that allows homosexuals to serve if they maintain their lifestyle private. Dubbed "don't ask, don't tell," it is unclear if the policy has the support of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn, who is holding hearings to determine whether the current ban should be upheld, altered, or abolished. "Don't ask, don't tell" is a compromise that would prevent recruiters from screening homosexuals at the point of enlistment, and might restrict the services' ability to study evidence of homosexuality. Either way, the armed services would be disrupted as commanders scrambled to deal with a fundamental contradiction: a policy that claims that "homosexuality is in