Discrimination based on sexual orientation has occurred in the US military since its formation. “Soldiers in the continental army were ‘drummed out of the service’ for engaging in same-sex relations” (Rimmerman). There were many gay members of the military who served throughout history and during World War I and World War II, but many were kicked out at the discretion of their commanding officer due to their sexuality. When President Bill Clinton took office after winning the 1992 election he stated that he would stay true to his campaign promise to repeal the military ban on LGB people in the military through an executive order. This was met with backlash from important military and political leaders and the religious right. Clinton and his
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Representative Marty Meehan introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to congress in both 2005 and 2007. The act sought to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and implement a military policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. No one would be discharged for engaging in homosexual acts, and those who had been discharged through Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell could not be denied readmission if they were otherwise qualified. (United States House of Representatives). In 2009 the bill was introduced yet again, this time by Representative Ellen Tuascher. Soon after in 2010 Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal legislation titled the Military Readiness Enhancement Act and tried to add it as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act but was unsuccessful in passing the amendment due to a filibuster led by Senator John McCain. In December the stand-alone bill Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 was passed and signed into law. (Washington Post). This ended the policy after a sixty-day waiting period but did not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation wasn’t added to the list of qualities protected against discrimination in the military until June of 2015. (Kime). According to a Gallup poll public acceptance of LGB individuals serving in the military had been increasing over time, of those polled 63% were in favor of allowing LGB individuals to openly serve in 2004, those favoring increased to 70% by 2010, and this increasing public support put pressure on the Obama administration to repeal the now outdated policy. When asked if homosexuals should or should not be hired for a position in the armed forces, a majority of 57% in 1992, around the beginning of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, said they should be, and this support continued to rise to 76% by 2005.
Representative Marty Meehan introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to congress in both 2005 and 2007. The act sought to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and implement a military policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. No one would be discharged for engaging in homosexual acts, and those who had been discharged through Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell could not be denied readmission if they were otherwise qualified. (United States House of Representatives). In 2009 the bill was introduced yet again, this time by Representative Ellen Tuascher. Soon after in 2010 Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal legislation titled the Military Readiness Enhancement Act and tried to add it as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act but was unsuccessful in passing the amendment due to a filibuster led by Senator John McCain. In December the stand-alone bill Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 was passed and signed into law. (Washington Post). This ended the policy after a sixty-day waiting period but did not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation wasn’t added to the list of qualities protected against discrimination in the military until June of 2015. (Kime). According to a Gallup poll public acceptance of LGB individuals serving in the military had been increasing over time, of those polled 63% were in favor of allowing LGB individuals to openly serve in 2004, those favoring increased to 70% by 2010, and this increasing public support put pressure on the Obama administration to repeal the now outdated policy. When asked if homosexuals should or should not be hired for a position in the armed forces, a majority of 57% in 1992, around the beginning of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, said they should be, and this support continued to rise to 76% by 2005.