Article Title
Constructing the Co-Ed Military
Abstract
During a pre-launch test of the Apollo One spacecraft,1 an electrical spark ignited the pure-oxygen atmosphere inside the cramped capsule, killing astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chafee.2 Critics demanded to know why the mechanical and electrical engineers of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) failed to recognize the inherent dangers of operating in a pure-oxygen environment. To ensure that the intent of Congress is carried out with regard to homosexuals in the military, the Secretary of Defense should: * Improve understanding and enforcement of the law by eliminating the Clinton Administration's enforcement regulations, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which are inconsistent with the 1993 law that Congress actually passed, and (better yet) restore "the question" about homosexuality that used to be on induction forms prior to January 1993. * Oppose any legislative attempt to repeal the 1993 homosexual conduct law in Congress. * Ensure that the 1993 statute is vigorously defended every time it is challenged in the federal courts. * Prepare and distribute accurate instructional materials for potential recruits, recruiters, and all military personnel that include the text and legislative history of the 1993 law. * Remind the media that everyone can serve their country in some way, but not everyone is eligible to be in the military. 2.
Citation
Elaine Donnelly,
Constructing the Co-Ed Military,
14 Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy
815-952
(2007)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/djglp/vol14/iss2/4