A gay Catch-22
Stars & Stripes reports that an Air Force officer who outed herself as a lesbian was told she has to stay in the military because you can’t out yourself just because you want to get a discharge. As the military newspaper notes, “if you admit to being homosexual you can be discharged from the military, ...
Stars & Stripes reports that an Air Force officer who outed herself as a lesbian was told she has to stay in the military because you can't out yourself just because you want to get a discharge.
As the military newspaper notes, "if you admit to being homosexual you can be discharged from the military, but if you admit it for the purposes of being discharged you won't be."
This is wonderful how the rules can be used against you, but not to your own advantage. One thing the military never leaves in doubt is who the institution is being run for: Not for you.
Stars & Stripes reports that an Air Force officer who outed herself as a lesbian was told she has to stay in the military because you can’t out yourself just because you want to get a discharge.
As the military newspaper notes, “if you admit to being homosexual you can be discharged from the military, but if you admit it for the purposes of being discharged you won’t be.”
This is wonderful how the rules can be used against you, but not to your own advantage. One thing the military never leaves in doubt is who the institution is being run for: Not for you.
Update: Stars & Stripes kindly points out that they didn’t originate the story, but rather reprinted an item that first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
More from Foreign Policy
Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.
So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.
Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.
Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
