“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) prohibited gays from serving openly in the military from December 1993 to September 2011.
The present study, conducted over one year after DADT’s repeal, utilized a survey of attitudes toward DADT that was previously administered to Marine Corps officers at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in 1999, 2004, and 2010. This survey, re-administered to NPS Marine officers in November 2012, addressed the following areas: policy, cohesion, leadership, tolerance, unit effectiveness, and military readiness. A comparison of results from the four surveys shows a clear trend of increasing acceptance toward homosexuals in the military. Levels of acceptance tended to vary by Military Occupational Specialty and length of service. Additionally, many Marine officers continued to express concern about habitability and personal comfort. These and other issues were further explored with Marine officers in three focus-group sessions. Overall, study results indicated strong agreement that the current policy protects the rights of all Marines, regardless of sexual orientation. Finally, Marine officers expressed confidence that the training they received adequately prepared them to execute the repeal of DADT. The thesis includes appendices with survey trend data from 1999 to 2012 and response frequencies from a concurrent survey of Navy officers.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) Timeline
1. In June 1976, the Federal Court of Appeals of the 9th Circuit issued a restraining order FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY in a gay-related discharge case.Justice Anthony Kennedy signed the order. This same Justice would later become an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
2. The difference between Staff Sergeant Robert LeBlanc’s case and all the others was that LeBlanc told the authorities it was none of theirbusiness. Not saying yes and not saying no. Starting, don’t ask, and don’t tell. This was also the first time in history the court said evidence of homosexual tendencies was not enough to discharge.
3. Brad Altman, the newspaper staff writer with the Long Beach Press-Telegram, broke the story. Brad Altman later became Actor George Takei’s husband, who was on Star Track.
4. Robert L. LeBlanc was included in the best-selling book by Investigative reporter Randy Shilts, “Conduct Unbecoming,” p. 287.
5. Staff Sergeant Robert LeBlanc’s case is the 1st time in American history when any court intervened in a military gay case.
Robert L. LeBlanc is in 4 books by name. (Sold on Amazon)
Do ASK, DO TELL: A GAY CONSERVATIVE LASHES BACK, By Bill Boushka
(Sold on Amazon)
WAR ON REPOSE, by David Lara (Sold on Amazon)
Silent Drums : The Story of Staff Sergeant Bob LeBlanc
