Homosexuals in the U.S. Military: Open Integration and Combat Effectiveness

Much of the debate about homosexuals in the military starts with the premise that U.S. policy must represent some balance or compromise between two competing ideals: guaranteeing civil rights and maintaining military effectiveness. In this article, the author argues that no such compromise is necessary; American policymakers are not facing a trade-off between national defense and civil rights: the open integration of gays and lesbians would not disrupt unit cohesion or undermine military performance.