Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: Options and Assessment

摘要

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from RAND's National Defense ResearchInstitute considered a wide range of topics potentially relevant to the issue of acknowledged homosexuals serving in the military. Staff members visited seven foreign countries and the police and fire departments in six American cities, seeking insights and lessons from analogous experiences of other organizations and institutions. The team considered the historical record, focusing on the integration of blacks and on the development of the current policy that prohibits homosexuals from serving in the military. it reviewed public opinion, including the views of current active-duty military personnel, and the scientific literature on group cohesion, sexuality, and related health issues. It examined a number of legal and enforcement issues, as well as the literature that deals with implementing in large organizations. The results of the team's research detailed in the subsequent chapters of this report.