SOC 201 Chapter 11: Chapter 11.31
Document Summary
The 1916 articles of war prohibited homosexuals from serving in the military. In world war ii, the military developed procedures for spotting and excluding homosexual draftees from service: Recruits were screened for feminine body characteristics, effeminacy in dress and manner and a patulous (expanded) rectum. During the vietnam war, some draftees claimed homosexual tendencies in order to avoid service. It didn"t always work: in 1968 perry watkins, a 19-year-old man, was drafted despite checking the yes" box in the category homosexual tendencies" during his pre-induction physical examination. After 16 years of service, the military discharged [sergeant] perry watkins for his sexual orientation; he promptly filed a lawsuit . Perry won the lawsuit and the court awarded him retroactive pay, an honorable discharge, and promotion from staff sergeant to sergeant first class. In 1993, the united states congress passed the military personnel eligibility. Act, informally known as don"t ask, don"t tell.
