The courage to fight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gays in the Military

Courage to fight

Today’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has created a “Closet Military” as many Gays and Lesbians continue to serve in silence or face Military Court Martial. Gays and Lesbians have served the U.S. Armed Forces with pride since the War for Independence. Courage to fight is a common goal of nationalism. There are historical precedents when Gays and Lesbians have served with pride without the need for the current U.S. Armed Forces policies on homosexuality, so there’s no reason to ban gays in the military! 

This is an annotated bibliography for research on Gays in the Military and their courage to fight. The objective is to give background to any person interested in the history, struggles, triumphs, etc. of Gay Men and Women in the Armed Forces, primarily the United States, and a starting point for their own investigations. It is not the intent of the author to promote discrimination by those opposed to Gays in the Military. The collected material is predominately individual accounts, court cases and statistics pertinent to the proposed integration of Gays in the Military and to breakthrough the same rhetoric arguments given against integration of race and gender in the 1940’s.

Dynes, Wayne R. “History.” Encyclopedia of Homosexuality.  New York and London:

Garland Reference Library of Social Sciences, 1990. Pages 539-42.

 

Wayne R. Dynes is Professor of Art History at Hunter College, City University of New York. He was a co-founder of New York's Gay Academic Union in 1973. Professor Dynes has authored many books on Homosexuality. He was also an editor on this two-volume "Encyclopedia of Homosexuality."

 

This article defines history and its origins, especially the modern definition and how it is traditionally organized.  It introduces mythical information, a paragraph form timeline and famous Greek persons who played roles in history.  The author reviews the emergence of homosexual history and the contemporary gay movement.  A bibliography list of references is included.

 

This article is very helpful as it goes right to simple history and the eras of mainstream history.  Since so much of the literature is produced by mainstream [heterosexual] historians, it provides corroborate sources and where to find other information on gay history. There are some very informative portions on Gays in general military history. [SCCCC Library HQ76.25.E53]

§         Social Sciences (HQ)

§         History – Americas – United States (E-F)

§         Military Sciences –(UB)

§         Law – United States (KF)

o        United States – Armed Forces - Gays.

o        United States – Militarypolicy.

o        United States – Politics and government – 1945-2001.

o        United States – Armed Forces – Gays – Legal status, laws, etc.

§         Gays

§         Homosexuality

§         Rights

§         Homophobia

§         Military

§         ProQuest Direct

§         EBSCO - Academic Search Elite

§         Seattle Central Community College online library catalog

 

I found that the initial subject of Gays was incredibly too broad and focusing on just a particular locality, i.e. Gays in Seattle, was too narrow or specific. Many related subjects suggested by the databases, by using mostly Library of Congress Language, proved invaluable in most cases, others required a Natural Language format, and helped the narrowing of the broad topics down to my final choice of Gays in the Military. The tools most effective were the Reference Collection and Online Databases at Seattle Central Community College - SCCC. Only a few resources came from the General Collection at SCCC and they were most helpful as primary sources of information. I also used the University of Washington Online Catalogue and Databases, Seattle Public Library Online Catalogue and Databases and the King County Library System Online Catalogue and Databases for connections to other resources.

Rimmermann, Craig A. “Military.” Gay and Lesbian Almanac.  Detroit and New York:  St.

James Press/Gale, 1998. Pages 253-72.

 

Craig A. Rimmermann is a professor of Political Science at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, NY. He was a Former Congressional Fellow of the American Political Science Association and has authored many books on the subject. He still teaches American Politics, democratic theory, gay and lesbian politics, etc.

 

This article explores the policies of the U.S. Armed Forces and definitions of the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of the 1990’s. It also provided collaborative information on the racial and gender integration of the military in 1948, Executive Order 9981. Statistics provide numbers of those discharged since 1980 for being homosexual. Featured sections were the murder of Allen Schindler by a shipmate, personnel ‘coming out’ on national television and the consequences. Very extensive references like books, chapters of books and periodicals are included.

 

This article answered several questions I wanted for statistics and experiences of gays in the military. The court battles provide inside information on the nationalism and pride of gays in the military. The list of references gave access to many periodicals that may be very helpful.

[SCCC Library HQ76.3.U5S75]

 

Newton, David E. Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA:

ABC-CLIO, 1994.

 

Mr. Newton holds B.A. and M.A. degrees and has been retired since 1983. His teaching career included secondary level classes in mathematics and science in his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. He spent a further 13 years teaching at Salem State College, MA the course of Human Sexuality among others. He now works as a full time writer with more than 50 books to his credit, on subjects like gun control and global warming. He also enjoys volunteering for people with HIV/AIDS and for the SPCA, Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals.

 

This book focus is in Gay and Lesbian rights in the U.S. and the battles that have been fought. Included is a great list of other sources, a glossary of terms and a chronology of events affecting the Gay and Lesbian civil and human rights.

 

I really enjoyed reading the timeline and the glossary. The resource list added to my vast collection of other resources. The history was invaluable.

 

Wolinsky, Marc, and Kenneth Sherrill, eds. Gays and the Military: Joseph Steffan v. the United States. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993.

 

Marc Wolinsky is a partner in the New York law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz, and co-counsel to Joseph C. Steffan in association with the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. Kenneth Sherrill is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the College Senate at Hunter College, City University of New York.

 

This book introduces the reader into the first contemporary case of the U.S. military ban on homosexuals in the military. Joseph C. Steffan was one of the top ten highest ranking midshipmen in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy and with only six weeks left to graduation he was forced to resign his commission and denied his diploma because he answered honestly to the question; “… are you homosexual.” Current Vice President Dick Cheney was the Secretary of Defense. This case continues to give hope to others in the same situation.

 

I found the book to be interesting for the scan ability for this assignment. The facts of the case are discussed as well as the cultural impact this case had on the American public. Furthermore, it shows how much clout and power gays and lesbians have in the American social structure.

[SCCC Library KF228.S74.S74]

 

Bérubé, Allan. Coming Out Under Fire: History of Gay Men and Women in World War Two.

New York: The Free Press, Inc., 1991.

 

Allan Bérubé is a Historian and Community Activist there was little information given other than he was living in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco when realized he was sitting in the middle of gay history then he wrote this book. Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II, emerged from a box of hundreds of letters exchanged among a circle of gay GIs from Missouri. A friend of a friend found the letters while cleaning out a house and gave them to Bérubé. His book and other research and writings helped lay the groundwork for gay and lesbian studies and won him a MacArthur Fellowship ("genius grant") in 1996. His book was also the foundation for the documentary film, Coming Out Under Fire.

 

I really enjoyed this book and checked out the movie from the Seattle Public Library for comparison. This book and movie is very good for a gay military history. [SCCC Library D769.2.B46]

 

Cammermeyer, Margarethe and Chris Fisher. Serving in Silence: Vietnam Nurse, Mother of

Four, Highest-Ranking Officer to Challenge the Military’s Antigay Policy. New York:

The Penguin Group, 1994.

 

Dr. Cammermeyer now retired after twenty-six years on active military experience lives with her Life Partner, Diane, on Whidbey Island, WA as does Chris Fisher. Cammermeyer was discharges (DISCHARGED) and later reinstated after a court overturned her discharge. Currently, Dr. Cammermeyer has been an outspoken woman on a verity of human rights issues, particularly Gays in the Armed Forces. She has been twice the grand marshal of the Seattle Annual Gay Pride March/Rally.

 

“The book that inspired a TV movie,” This tag line appears on the back cover. Serving in Silence is a wonderful and tragic personal account with a positive ending. The account is very personal and incorporates the tragedy of the truth about discrimination on gender and sexuality in the U.S. Armed Forces. Aspects of effects on the family and partner are raised and the political and social context of such a pivotal point in a very quiet existence.

 

I really found the book and movie very helpful in research of Gays in the Military. The personal accounts, such as Dr. Cammermeyer’s personal story, are invaluable because such history on gays in general is scarce. I have this great woman and found her to be well spoken, well informed and extremely personable. I still occasionally speak to her on the phone and she never fails to amaze me. [SCCC Library UB418.G38C36 1995]

 

Pettis, Ruth ed. “Mosaic 1: Life Stories from isolation to community.” Seattle, WA: Northwest Lesbian and Gay History Museum Project, 2002.

 

Since 1996, Ms. Pettis has been with the Northwest Lesbian and Gay History Museum Project an all volunteer organization.  She has a B.A. in anthropology from Indiana University and an M.L.S. from Simmons College in Boston.  She has contributed and been published through many forms of media.

 

This book contains a collection of edited oral history of Seattle and Northwest Lesbian and Gay history.  Notable people like Rev. Gwen Hall and Rose Bohanan offer recollections of life in Seattle and of religion.  A timeline is included for reference of where in history thing sit for Lesbians and Gays in Seattle and nationwide.

 

This book is very helpful as it goes right to the people of the community.  Since so much of the history is produced by straight-America and Lesbian and Gay history is omitted, it provides important aspects about life and love in Seattle since the late 19^th century and where to find the other sources.  One last note for those who want to know stuff like; “how did a cannon full of confetti launch Seattle’s first disco” Or “who blew the whistle on the Seattle Police payoffs” it’s all in here. [Beyond the Closet Bookstore, www.beyondthecloset.com]

 

* Note: the following MLA Citation is included for those who wish to search at other libraries to augment their SCCC Library research.

 

University of Washington – Suzzallo/Allen Library

 

Carpenter, C. Tyler & Edward H. Yeatts. Stars without garters! : The memoirs of two gay GI's in WWII. San Francisco: Alamo Square Press 1996.

[Suzzallo/Allen Library Stacks D811.5 .C285 1996]

 

 

Smith, Rhona K M. “European Convention on Human Rights – respect for private life –

      prohibition on homosexuals in the British Armed Forces.”  American Journal of International Law, 2000, volume 984, issue 2, pages 382-386.  ProQuest Direct. Seattle Central Community College Library, 18 February 2003. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb>.

 

Rhona K.M. Smith, LLB(Honors), PhD is a lecturer in law at the Robert Gordon University in United Kingdom and a founding member of the international disciplinary Equality in Europe Research Unit based there. Her research interest in human rights is evidenced by the wide range of journals, academic and professional, UK and overseas, in which she has published.

 

This article was a similar to the article “International Law – Human Rights – European Court of Human Rights rules that British Military’s discharge of homosexuals is illegal” in Harvard Law Review, the same month. It addresses several court cases filed against the British Armed Forces of discrimination on basis of homosexuality, the details and then the court decision is stated. Furthermore, this article was well footnoted, about 2 pages worth, for supportive references.

 

I found it very pertinent to my final project. The fact that the ‘World Court” ruled that it is illegal and the U.S. continues to discriminates raised more relevant questions to augment any research paper I would write.

 

Hartman, Ann. “Out of the closet: Revolution and Backlash.” Social Work, 1993, volume 38, number 3, pages 245-248. EBSCO: Academic Search Elite. Seattle Central Community College Library, 20 February 2003. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb>.

 

Ann Hartman is visiting professor at Fordham University School of Social Service and dean/professor emeritus of the Smith College School of Social Work. She is a noted expert in family therapy and social work theory and practice.

 

This article is on a general subject, but has many issues raised with the topic of Gays in the Armed Forces. Professor Hartman discusses many relevant points on comparisons with racial inequality in the military a half century before and the same rhetoric argument is being used today to support the anti-gay discrimination. There is more emphasis on the backlash of all the fights for equal rights in general. Furthermore, there is an entire page of great supportive references and footnotes.

 

I found this article very interesting although a bit dated the material was still very much in the public eye. The informational references would come in handy for a full written project.

 

* Note: the following MLA Citations are included for those who wish to search at other libraries to augment their SCCC Library research.

 

Seattle Public Library

 

Wyman, Melissa and Mark Snyder. “Attitudes toward "gay in the military": a functional perspective.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 15 February 1997. Volume 27, Number 4, Pages 306-330. InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index - Seattle Public Library. Seattle Central Community College Library. <http://www.spl.org/selectedsites/MagNews.html> 3 February 2003

 

King County Library System

 

Azzolina, David. “Gay Warriors: A Documentary History from the Ancient World to the Present.” Library Journal; New York; January 2002. Volume 127, Number 1, Page 133. ProQuest: ABI/INFORM Global – King County Library System. Seattle Central Community College Library. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb> 3 February 2003

 

University of Washington – Suzzallo/Allen Library

 

Europe enters a new millennium with gays in the military while the United States drowns in Don't ask, Don't Tell: twin decisions by the European Court of Human Rights. American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy, and the Law. Summer 2001. Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 423-449. InfoTrac Web: LegalTrac. Suzzallo Library, University of Washington. 27 February 2003

 

 

McIntyre, Jamie.  “Record number of gays discharged from U.S. military: But Pentagon says 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is working.” Cable News Network/CNN Interactive.6 April 1998.  4 March 2003. < http://www.cnn.com/US/9804/06/dont.ask/>.

 

Jamie McIntyre is CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent. He is the network's longest serving military affairs correspondent, having taken over the beat in November 1992, shortly after the election of former President Bill Clinton. One of the most senior reporters assigned to the Pentagon, McIntyre has earned a reputation for fairness and accuracy while covering U.S. military missions in Somalia, Iraq, Bosnia, Haiti, Rwanda, and Kosovo.

 

This article addresses the truths about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy after several years of action. This article includes a timeline stating the rising numbers of gays being discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces since the policy’s inception. A quote from Defense Secretary William Cohen brings the article together from the beginning.

 

This article was extremely informative and allowed me to see this issue from the mass media point of view. The author was very objective in his reporting. I suggest searching for related topics reported by this high caliber reporter.

 

PBS Online NewsHour. Gays in the Military. January 2000.  3 March 2003.

      < http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/january00/gays_military.html >.

 

Public Broadcasting System, PBS has over 40 years of experience in the presentation of free, subscriber, viewer supported, based programming. It continues to inform, educate and entertain. It is a community resource that has no equal, not even cable/public access network channels.

 

What should the U.S. military policy be toward homosexuals? Co-executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Michelle Benecke and Robert Maginnis, senior director of national security and foreign affairs at the Family Research Council, respond to your questions. Some of those questions include ‘What should the military’s policy be on gays and lesbians in the armed forces?’ and ‘Serving openly, should it be allowed?’

 

I liked reading this website because I have great respect for PBS, and their integrity is unquestionable. The format was similar to a forum and was presented without an individual author. Nonetheless, PBS has always presented new in an objective format and I enjoy my new without outside influences from advertisers and special interest companies.

 

 

Coming Out Under Fire: Prejudice in the Military Then & Now. Director Arthur Dong. Video Cassette. Fox Lorber Home Video. 1995.

 

Arthur Dong produces award-winning films and videos that combine the art of the visual medium with an investigation of social issues. His Los Angeles-based company, DeepFocus Productions, Inc., was established in 1982 to produce and distribute socially responsible media. Arthur is a graduate of the Film School at San Francisco State University (1982, Summa Cum Laude) and the American Film Institute's Center for Advanced Film and Television Studies (Directing Fellow, 1984). He is on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, representing the Documentary Branch.

COMING OUT UNDER FIREshoots to the heart of an issue that continues to be the focus of heated debates today: the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays and lesbians in the military. Recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award and a Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award, this internationally acclaimed film uncovers the World War II origins of a military policy which labeled homosexuals as mentally ill and sought their discharge as "undesirables."

I found this movie to be a rather impressive documentary based on Allan Bérubé’s book Coming Out Under Fire: History of Gay Men and Women in World War Two. It addresses the conditions, fallacies, personal issues, general military soldier’s views, etc. I highly recommend the viewing of the video for any research on Gays in the Military. Seattle Public Library.

 

 

ü      Describe the kind of resources that seemed to be better than others for this topic; justify the proportion of information sources selected--that is, if you included more of one type of source than another, why did you make that choice? How the Internet is suited/not suited to your topic? Books? Periodicals?

 

The best resources were the books both in the Reference and General Collections here at Seattle Central Community College, yet I must say that the most enjoyable resources to use were the Online Databases and the Electronic Library Catalogues due to my aversion to reading more than which is required of me. Because my topic was of a contemporary designation, the electronic resources proved most valuable. Nonetheless, I could not have done as much with the electronic resources if I had not had previous experience with the books or print materials. The value in the printed book is immeasurable.

 

ü      Discuss your new learning about the nature of this topic and the information which was available.

 

I really must say I learned quite a bit about the plight of my fellow gays and lesbians who have the courage to fight for the United States of America and in its court rooms for that right. Furthermore, I had no knowledge of how many Servicemembers were affected by this issue, I guess in the tens of thousands at least of the over million who are in the armed forces. This topic is so contemporary that there is a wealth of information if you have the desire to look.

 

ü      Discuss your new learning about the research process.

 

The research process presented in this class is easier than any other that I have come across. I have been taught different forms that made the research process feel tedious and boring. I really found that knowledge of the Academic Disciplines and Library of Congress Subject Headings to make it much easier to narrow, locate and feel comfortable with a particular topic. Not to mention, the research helped me with the best thesis I have ever wrote – clear and to the point, no fluff and frou frou.

 

ü      Discuss what you have learned from this class.

 

The class was fun. I learned, or I should say, re-learned just how much fun the library can be. That a library can open a mind, expand intellect, and nourish the soul, and so on. I am even considering a request to the administration for a reassessment of my choice of program and go for an Associate of Arts with possible transfer to a training course in the basics of Library Technician. I feel it could be an interesting and accessible form of employment for someone with the physical limitations like mine.

 

ü      Explore how you will apply what was learned to current and future classes and in personal or professional life.

 

Well, I like to acquire knowledge like some acquire cars, shoes, clothes and credit cards. I plan to continue attending college classes and will need to take English 102 and know that this experience will be easy to apply to that course. Other courses I have taken in the last two to three years would have benefited from this research process had I had the foresight to take this class, or similar one, earlier. As for the professional life, I do not really have one, so I has little relevance in that area, but I still help people with social services information and referral and this research experience will be invaluable.