The impact of Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

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In the past several years, homosexuality is an issue that has been widely debated among the American people, and has caused an uproar of controversy. The debate of homosexuality among our military members has sparked a political, social, and personal debate. Homosexuals have been denied for years, and in recent years members of the United States military have started to come forward, and not allow their sexual identity to be denied. This controversial issue has caused mass controversy, and still impacts American society today. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is related to public administration because it was a public policy issue brought upon by the government. It was an issue that impacted the United States military, and denied service members the right to openly share if they were truly homosexual. Gay or lesbian service members didn’t have the right to bring up their sexual orientation without consequences, and the government thought that if service members weren’t allowed to talk about their sexual orientation it wouldn’t be a public issue, but on the contrary it became a very well-known public policy debate. Americans are living in an era where people want their voices to be heard, and few are willing to keep their sexual identity a secret any longer. Civilians along with American military personnel no longer want to be identified through false stereotypes, and biases, but want to be recognized for the service they are able to provide for our country. In the past, thousands of military personnel have been subjected to losing their rank, and their uniform, due to having a homosexual orientation. There is very little logical reasoning behind why homosexuals were banned from serving in the military. Most of the discomfor... ... middle of paper ... ...X), 27(4), 541-565. National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), United States., Rand Corporation., & National Defense Research Institute (U.S.). (2010). Sexual orientation and U.S. military personnel policy: An update of RAND's 1993 study. Santa Monica: Rand Corp. Obama, B. (2009). It Is Not for Me to Tell You to Be Patient. Vital Speeches Of The Day, 75(12), 543-545. Rimmerman, C. A. (1996). Gay rights, military wrongs: Political perspectives on lesbians and gays in the military. New York: Garland Pub. Shawver, L. (1995). And the flag was still there: Straight people, gay people, and sexuality in the U.S. military. New York: Haworth Press. United States Department of Defense. (2013, June 26). Defense.gov News Article: Hagel: Defense Department Welcomes Supreme Court Decision. Retrieved November 29, 2013, from http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=120364

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