Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender (LGBT) Personnel: A Military Challenge

Abstract

In recent decades, LGBT inclusion in the military has increased rapidly, with many countries eliminating bans against the LGBT service. The Armed Forces interact with the values of the societies they serve and the so-called “power of identity” does not exclude the armed forces. So LGBT people want to exert their right to enter any position in the military. These changes have raised questions on the suitability of LGBT people to serve and on the effects of their service on the armed forces. Without neglecting a historical overview, this chapter discusses some aspects connected with LGBT issues in military life: the effects of their presence on the effectiveness and on the high standards of morale and duty, good order and discipline, loyalty and cohesion. The chapter also underlines how full military inclusion for transgender service members hasn’t been accomplished yet and how a number of prejudices and forms of LGBT-phobia still exist today.