Duty, Honor, Pride

Military Experiences of LGBTQ+ Servicemembers of Central PA

Criticisms of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"

Snowden’s experience was far too common in the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network reported that female servicemembers were specifically singled out for harassment, accounting for about a fifth of the discharges for homosexuality despite only making up thirteen percent of active duty. They were specifically singled out and accused of homosexuality after filing sexual harassment or assault complaints against a male co-worker.

LGBT-034, 1.2: “Stop Discrimination End the Military Ban” Button

LGBTQ-015, 2.7.1: Schmitt, Eric. “Gay Troops: Clinton’s Juggling Act.” The New York Times, 18 October 1994.

There was also a lot of confusion surrounding the policy in terms of how it was carried out. Military leaders found it difficult to know when and how investigations were to be conducted under this new policy. An issue also existed regarding what classified as the “credible evidence” needed to investigate LGBTQ+ servicemembers.

LGBT-015, 2.7.3: Shenon, Philip. “Despite New Policy, Military Asks About Homosexuality.” The New York Times, 27 February 1996.

LGBT-015, 1.8.8: “Rejecting ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.” The New York Times, December 1999.

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