Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A Time to Go, But How?

Abstract

Abstract : Homosexual integration into the military is desirable but not inevitable. Congressional and presidential action to repeal current laws and policies is the first step in integration. However, Congress is unlikely to act without strong support from senior military and civilian officials. Such support is currently lacking. The issue is how to convince those senior leaders to support integration? First, and contrary to conventional wisdom, senior leaders can look to the historic integration of African Americans for examples of how best to institute integration of open homosexuals. In that instance civilian and military leaders used a brand of systems thinking and academic studies to support integration, followed by a comprehensive, strict enforcement of the integration process. Similar use of systems, scholarly studies, a properly focused strategic message, and a strict enforcement of current disciplinary standards will assure senior leaders that homosexuals can seamlessly integrate into today's military.