We will discuss the following topics:
The history of gays in the military
What are the theoretical arguments for excluding lesbians and gay men?
What are the theoretical arguments for not excluding lesbians and gay men?
History of the policy: What happened under the Clinton administration and why?
History of the Solomon Amendment
What happened at Middlebury?
How was the ban lifted? Who was in favor and who opposed?
What consequences are there today?
Resources on reserve:
Randy Shilts, Conduct Unbecoming
Allan Berube, Coming Out Under Fire
Gay Rights, Military Wrongs
Officially Gay: The Political Construction of Sexuality by the US Military
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military
Films: Serving in Silence and Coming Out under Fire
Online Resources:
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Aaron Belkin article in Parameters
Stanford Don’t Ask Don’t Tell pages (see this on the Solomon Amendment)
Elaine Donnelly’s Center for Military Readiness
Towleroad’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell hub (many pages here: click next at the bottom)