Gays and the Military (ebook)

Argumento de Gays and the Military (ebook)

In April 1987 Joseph C. Steffan, one of the ten highest ranking midshipmen in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy, and only six weeks from graduation, was denied his diploma and forced to resign his commission because he answered "Yes, sir" to the question, "I'd like your word, are you a homosexual?" Six years later his cause, and that of other gay men and lesbians seeking to serve their country by enlistment in the military, has become the subject of intense national controversy. This unusual and innovative work, based on the litigation strategy and court papers filed in the case of Joseph C. Steffan v. Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense, et al., brings the resources of clinical psychiatry, clinical and social psychology, cultural history and political science to bear upon the fundamental questions at issue: How is sexual orientation determined? How and why have socially prejudiced stereotypes about male and female homosexuals developed? Why have gays faced special obstacles in defending themselves against discrimination? How much political power do gays have?

Marc Wolinsky and Kenneth Sherrill argue that gays constitute a politically powerless class that has been unjustly deprived of its constitutional right to equal protection under the law. They have collected here the affidavits filed on behalf of Joseph Steffan in his suit against the United States government, together with the counter-arguments of the Department of Defense and the extraordinary opinion of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Whatever the outcome of the case, presently on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, this book will stand as a lasting and indispensable guide to the sources of sexual discrimination.

"This is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to understand the constitutional, emotional, human, and organizational issues involved. It is a remarkable collection of materials concerning homosexuality in the military and provides a service to all in understanding the current national debate."--Choice

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1994
Named an Outstanding Book by the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America for 19980Acknowledgments A Note on Style Introduction Motion for Summary Judgment of Joseph Steffan 3 Affidavit I of John Boswell: On the History of Social Attitudes toward Homosexuality from Ancient Greece to the Present 40 Affidavit II of John Boswell: On the Use of the Term "Homo" as a Derogatory Epithet 49 Affidavit I of Richard Green: On Homosexual Orientation as an Immutable Characteristic 56 Affidavit of Kenneth Sherrill: On Gay People as a Politically Powerless Group 84 Affidavit of Gregory Herek: On Prejudice toward Gay People and Gays as Security Risks 121 Affidavit of Robert Rankin: On the Ability of Gay People to Perform Well in the Military 141 Affidavit of Kate Dyer: On Other Nations' Policies toward Gays in the Military 146 Memorandum in Response to Motion of Joseph Steffan 150 Reply Memorandum in Support of Joseph Steffan's Motion 161 Affidavit II of Richard Green: On Recent Developments in the Field of Brain Research 171 Opinion 174 Table of Cases 189 Notes 191 Index 211