Lesbians in the Military

Women's roles in the U.S. military have varied. Initially, women were not permitted to serve in the military under any circumstances. Later, women were permitted to serve as clerical staff during World War I and in the Women's Army Corps, the Navy WAVES, and the Coast Guard SPARS during World War II. In some instances, women served in the military by posing as men. Reception to women service members varies; nevertheless, the reception of lesbians in the military has been consistently negative.

[Page 847]As a result of a ban on homosexuals’ being service members, lesbians have not been able to serve in the military. In 1993, Congress and President Bill Clinton compromised on the president's attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals’ serving in the military. ...