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378 BCE
Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, the Sacred Band of Thebes was a military unit from 378 BCE which consisted of male lovers who were known for their effectiveness in battle. -
31 BCE
Ancient Cultures
Being Gay, or homosexual was commonly accepted in most ancient cultures, and they found nothing wrong with sleeping with people of the same gender. Most ancient cultures did not care if you were gay and serving in the Military, as long as you were serving. Men would sleep with other men just as much as women. -
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Throughout History
Though the U.S. military did not officially exclude LGBT service members from its ranks before the mid-20th century, “homosexual acts” were grounds for discharge as far back as the Revolutionary War. -
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Other Bans
Official bans on gays serving in the military first surfaced in the early 20th century. The U.S. introduced a ban in a revision of the Articles of War of 1916 and the UK first prohibited homosexuality in the Army and Air Force Acts in 1955. -
Aftermath
After World War 1, they made it so that sodomy(Anal or Oral Sex) was punishable by court-martial. -
Mental Disorder
in preparation for World War 2, people made Homosexuality out to be a mental disorder or disease. In 1942, the military made Homosexuality a reason to not let someone join the military. -
Sergeant Leonard Matlovich
Sergeant Leonard Matlovich was honorably discharged from the air force for admitting his sexuality, and being gay. -
Bans
an explicit ban was put into place on gay men and women in the military in 1982, but they weren't respected before then. -
Incompatibility
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) releases a policy stating that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” Between 1980 and 1990, an average of 1,500 military service members are discharged annually on the basis of sexual orientation. -
Beginning
Don't Ask Don't Tell was created by Clinton in 1993, and it stated that you were not allowed to ask a serviceman or woman about their sexuality. It represented a compromise between those who wanted to end the longstanding ban on gays serving in the U.S. military and those who felt having openly gay troops would hurt morale and cause problems within military ranks. -
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Time of DADT
Even though DADT was in action, the military would still likely remove you if they found out that you were not straight, whether it just be bisexual. -
DADT - Explanation
You could be gay in the military as long as you were closeted and kept it a secret. No one would ask you, and no one had to know. -
Ending
when DADT was repealed in 2011, it ended 17 years of secrecy for all of the LGBTQIA+ people in the military. -
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After DADT
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Ash Carter
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announces that the Military Equal Opportunity policy has been modified to include gay and lesbian service members. -
Trans
From 1960 to June 30, 2016, there was a blanket ban on all transgender people from serving and enlisting in the United States military. -
Eric Fanning
The Senate confirms Eric Fanning as secretary of the Army, making him the first openly gay secretary of a U.S. military branch. -
Against Bans
A second federal judge rules against Trump's transgender military ban. The Department of Justice continues to appeal the ruling -
Intersex
Intersex people are now employed in about 3 militaries around the world, including the US, but it is dependent on their health conditions, and how well known it is. -
Response
even now, years after all bans and DADT, LGBTQIA+ service members are still afraid to come out on fear of harassment, or even discharge. -
Transgender Everywhere
Trans people are now allowed to serve in most militaries, but still not all militaries. -
Now
Right now openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people can serve in most countries around the world.
