Follow Israel's Example

America could learn from Israel about how to integrate gays into the military.

The US military needs to learn from the IDF and the tolerant Israeli model regarding homosexual soldiers and officers, concluded a research project on gay and lesbian service in the IDF, undertaken at the University of California, in Santa Barbara.

According to a Florida newspaper, the St. Petersburg Times, a brigadier general quoted in the pair’s study said Israelis show a "great tolerance" for homosexual soldiers.

David Saranga, a former IDF officer and now Israel’s consul for media and public affairs in New York said, "It's a non-issue... You can be a very good officer, a creative one, a brave one and be gay at the same time."

The paper referenced the California study's survey of 17 heterosexual IDF soldiers: Only two said they would have a problem serving under a gay commander and three expressed concern about showering with a gay colleague. None objected to gay soldiers in general.

As one officer put it, "They’re citizens of Israel, like you and me. The sexual orientation of the workers around me doesn’t bother me."

Israel is one of 24 nations that allow openly gay individuals to serve in the military. Since the early nineties, sexual identity presents no formal barrier in terms of soldiers' military specialization or eligibility for promotion.

The Israelis have lived with this policy for over 10 years. In general they are convinced they made the right decision.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Shalikashvili thinks such a policy could work in America too.

Shakashvili noted that in Israel, as well as in the other 23 nations with a similar policy on homosexuals in the military, service by gay soldiers had not had an adverse effect on the military.

The St. Petersburg Times echoed Shalikashvili's sentiments, noting that in 1993 "Israel took exactly the opposite approach (from the US)…Fourteen years later, Israelis are convinced they made the right decision."

During WW2 sexual orientation was no bar to military service. Sixty years later and we are just starting to change policy.

World War II WAC Sergeant Johnnie Phelps, in response to a request from General Eisenhower that she ferret out the lesbians in her battalion:

Yessir. If the General pleases I will be happy to do this investigation…. But, sir, it would be unfair of me not to tell you, my name is going to head the list…. You should also be aware that you're going to have to replace all the file clerks, the section heads, most of the commanders, and the motor pool…. I think you should also take into consideration that there have been no illegal pregnancies, no cases of venereal disease, and the General himself has been the one to award good conduct commendations and service commendations to these members of the WAC detachment.

General Eisenhower: Forget the order.

~Bunny MacCulloch interview with Johnnie Phelps, 1982

Quoted from Odd Girls And Twilight Lovers by Lillian Faderman.

Odd Girls And Twilight Lovers The book.

Nice picture of Sergeant Johnnie Phelps in uniform. Hot. I love the fire in her eyes.

Update: 08 Feb '07 1744z

One of my commenters, PJ, tells me that the Johnnie Phelps story isn't true. Her paths and Eisenhower's didn't cross. Dang. Just another war story. I liked it better when I thought it was true.

She still looks cute in the picture.

Cross Posted at Classical Values