U.s. Military Policy On Homosexuals Criticised (Press, 21 July 1971)

A study conducted by the Institute for Sex Research, founded by Dr Alfred Kinsey, has revealed criticisms regarding the United States military's policies towards homosexuals. The authors of the study, Drs Martin Weinberg and Colin Williams, describe the current military stance as "unwise, unjust, and essentially unenforceable." They assert that many homosexual servicemen serve honourably and argue that if an individual's sexual orientation does not interfere with their military duties, it should not be a concern for military officials. The study highlights that between 2,000 and 3,000 servicemen among the approximate three million active duty personnel each year receive less than honourable discharges due to their homosexuality. However, it is noted that over 90 per cent of servicemen are discharged honourably, indicating that a majority remain undiscovered by the military. Despite this, the military continues to bar homosexuals and individuals suspected of homosexual tendencies from service. The research, titled "Homosexuals and the Military," focuses on two main aspects: the discovery process leading to dishonourable discharges for homosexuality and the resultant social and psychological effects of such discharges. The study included a sample of 64 men connected to two homosexual organisations. Within the sample, half had received dishonourable discharges for homosexuality, while the other half had been honourably discharged. The authors discovered the main ways homosexuals were found out consisted of being reported by others (54 per cent), voluntary admissions typically made to gain release from service (29 per cent), and instances of their own indiscreet behaviour (16 per cent). It was also noted that those who had received less than honourable discharges had engaged in more homosexual activity prior to their military induction compared to those who received honourable discharges. While the study found that most of those discharged dishonourably did not suffer significant long-term psychological or social repercussions, exceptions were noted for individuals seeking government employment or security clearance. These men, likely due to their discharge status, were more frequently identified by friends and family as homosexuals and showed tendencies toward considering or attempting suicide. This research, initiated four years prior to the report, raises significant questions about the military's handling of homosexuals and the implications of its policies on those individuals' lives, calling for a reassessment of current practices.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand