Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II

Surveys the experiences of gay soldiers during World War II, discusses military Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II.
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In fact, it was privately acknowledged that gay men had become vital members of the armed forces. Teenage recruits who were just fooling around with each other, especially if they had been drinking, found themselves unexpectedly becoming sexual. Some older soldiers with more sexual experience in the military taught younger men how to have sex without getting caught. On the other hand, recruits who knew they were gay before entering the service were sometimes the most reluctant to have sex. Meanwhile, Army and Navy officials struggled with how to manage the homosexual behaviour, and several approaches were developed.

When challenged from the outside, particularly by concerned parents or clergy, their public stance was to condemn behaviour considered to be immoral in the wider culture, including profanity, drunkenness, erotic pictures, extramarital sex, lesbianism, homosexuality, and prostitution.

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Within the organization, however, military officials took a more understanding approach—forced into it by the need to hang onto trained personnel. They also received pleas for tolerance from the war propaganda which portrayed American soldiers as defending the ideals of democracy, equality, and freedom against the totalitarian Axis.

But inspired more by necessity than idealism, male trainees responded to the demands of basic training by developing their own pragmatic ethic of tolerance: These were all-male shows for each other that almost always featured female impersonation, and coincidentally provided a temporary refuge for gay males to let their hair down and entertain their fellows. But during World War II, the military officials, pressured by GIs, their own morale personnel, and leaders in the civilian theatre world …found themselves not only tolerating makeshift drag but officially promoting female impersonation.

In , strained by the demands of a massive war mobilization that included a large influx of gay soldiers, the military could no longer handle its homosexual discipline problems by sending all offenders to prison as required by the Articles of War. Therefore, the unfortunate men and women awaiting jusice were helplessly caught somewhere in the middle. There was also the question of what sort of discharge would apply—i.

An honourable discharge, it was argued, might lead to homosexual activity or declaration in order to escape compulsory service. These had been used successfully to eliminate social misfits—alcoholics, chronic liars, drug addicts, men who antagonised everyone—but technically did not include homosexuals. In the end , however, the military issued a directive that steered a compromise inasmuch as sodomy was still deemed a criminal offence, but allowed for an exception where force or violence had not been used. Some gay male and lesbian GIs first entered the maze when they voluntarily declared their homosexuality, fully expecting to be hospitalized and discharged.

Caught during their processing for discharge in battles between friendly and hostile officers, they found themselves thrown around like footballs in a game over which they had no control. Nor were things to improve when they were returned home to civilian life. The stigma attached to these discharges was not an accident. Rather, it was intended to punish homosexuals and prevent malingering, and requirement that the GI report to his draft board ensured that his community would find out the nature of his discharge.

Therefore, they were forced to come out to their families and communities. One of the most vindictive punishments meted out to these veterans was the denial of GI benefits that included federally subsidized home loans; college loans with allowances for subsistence, tuition, and books; unemployment allowances; job training and placement programs; disability pensions and hospital care.

Top officials at the Veterans Administration were responsible for this denial, contrary to Army policy and Congress, but nonetheless the VA refused to drop its anti-homosexual prohibition. Consequently, many blue-discharge veterans found it difficult impossible to find employment, but when they applied for unemployment insurance, or small business loans, or college assistance, they were denied in a Catch situation.

One of the side effects of this discrimination was that having survived fear and death on the battlefield, some gay combat veterans began to cast off the veil of secrecy that so seriously constrained their lives. However, you will have to read this most remarkable book to learn the outcome of this.

Jan 13, Michael rated it really liked it Shelves: He finds that the experience of WWII was both that of increased surveillance and of a greater solidarity as a gay subculture developed in the military during wartime. In a time when the military needed manpower, the services were ambivalent about what to do about gays in the military.

As military's psychiatrists sought to discover the gay personality type, new ways of dealing Review by Elaine Taylor May points out that Berube's is a pioneering work in the social history of gays in World War II. As military's psychiatrists sought to discover the gay personality type, new ways of dealing with gay servicemen included the "queer stockade" and "blue discharges" less than honorable discharge as well as rehabilitation for return to duty.

A minority of these psychiatrists did not feel that homosexuality affected battlefield performance. The fact that the military did not allow women in combat zones meant that those who entertained the troops returned to the age old convention of men playing the parts of women. Developing a drag performance style designated as "camping," the gay servicemen claimed their own cultural space.

Berube also recounts the battlefield performance of gay men, which included many acts of heroism. The period of tolerance in the immediate post-war period quickly yielded to homophobic witch hunts in the cold war. Among the more interesting sections of this book is the one that deals with medicine's treatment of homosexuality.

Psychiatrists Discover the Gay GI," he describes the research undertaken by military psychiatrists to better diagnose homosexuality in men. They began by working on tests that determined if a serviceman had a gag reflex, which they assumed disappeared in gay men who had performed frequent oral sex on other men. They moved on to studies which categorized the personality characteristics of gay men -- effeminacy, superiority and fear. One main objective of this work was to weed out true homosexuals from straight men who used homosexuality as an excuse to get out of the military.

Though this was not as common as it would be later in Vietnam, malingering was still seen as a problem by military officers. Berube's account also explains how the compassion of many psychiatrists led them to purposefully "misdiagnose" the patient, rather than put "homosexual" on the medical record they made up other diagnoses like "psychoneurosis" to protect the patient.

In one of the ironies of history, the first challenge to the military's anti-gay policies was launched by a group of psychiatrists reporting to LTC Lewis H. Loeser at the 36th station hospital in Devonshire, UK. Their research, documented by case histories argued that homosexuality did not make men less capable soldiers and urged the Army to abandon discrimination against homosexuals in the military.

I was recommended this book during a presentation of some research of mine at a Phi Alpha Theta history conference in , and I am so glad that I finally did. There are a lot of feelings and words that I don't think I can easily articulate at this moment but I want to say a thank you to Mr Berube for helping to shed light on gay, lesbian and other members of the community that, while fighting the visible war of World War II in a variety of specialized combat and non combat roles, proving their I was recommended this book during a presentation of some research of mine at a Phi Alpha Theta history conference in , and I am so glad that I finally did.

There are a lot of feelings and words that I don't think I can easily articulate at this moment but I want to say a thank you to Mr Berube for helping to shed light on gay, lesbian and other members of the community that, while fighting the visible war of World War II in a variety of specialized combat and non combat roles, proving their capability and ability just as well as their heterosexual comrades, they fought a personal war against the government, country, and institution they proudly served- that by and large sought to strip them of post war benefits , of their dignity, of their privacy, and of their fundamental right to live while being true to themselves.

Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War Two

This was a good history book of gay and lesbian soldiers who met other queers or had same sex experiences while serving in WWII. The witch hunts, I had heard about. They happened during my service in the s. Being arrested without committing This was a good history book of gay and lesbian soldiers who met other queers or had same sex experiences while serving in WWII. This book has it all - and it's also very accessible, so you can learn a lot without already being a military buff. The first chapters are about all the measures in place to catch queer people joining the military to begin with, and then there's a significant amount of time devoted to the social climate of the military.

An amazing amount of prima This book has it all - and it's also very accessible, so you can learn a lot without already being a military buff. An amazing amount of primary source data, particularly from interviews that are incredibly touching. And because of the availability of historical sources, the book focuses mostly on white gay men, but there are clear attempts to widen the scope and a more detailed explanation in the notes at the end of the book.

Well worth a read! Interesting and somewhat horrifying history of gay service people in world war ii. For many, it was their first chance at a gay community, and many found roles as mascots and entertainers for the troops. But at the same time, psychologists went after them for the first time, and the things they put them through were traumatic and awful--putting them in brigs that were really cages, displaying them for humiliation, turning them out of service for sexual psychopathy, which they then had to bring t Interesting and somewhat horrifying history of gay service people in world war ii.

But at the same time, psychologists went after them for the first time, and the things they put them through were traumatic and awful--putting them in brigs that were really cages, displaying them for humiliation, turning them out of service for sexual psychopathy, which they then had to bring to their local draft boards, which made it difficult to find jobs after being kicked out, etc. I would have liked to have seen more about lesbian experiences, it did focus mostly on men, and to have been a bit more organized, but it was overall an interesting read.

A super interesting read about gays in the military during WW II. It's written well enough for someone like me, who didn't have very much knowledge about that topic, to stay hooked through the entirey of the book. Although I do have to say that I struggled to get through some of the chapters, mainly those focusing on psychiatric work or the law situation back then. Those were a bit dry imho. May 24, Caroline rated it really liked it Shelves: As Allan Berube writes at the close of this book, "the generation of gay men and women who served in World War II grew into adulthood fighting one war for their country and another to protect themselves from their government's escalating mobilization against them.

Things may be improving, but not enough and not fast enough. It is important that the service and sacrifices of these men and As Allan Berube writes at the close of this book, "the generation of gay men and women who served in World War II grew into adulthood fighting one war for their country and another to protect themselves from their government's escalating mobilization against them.

It is important that the service and sacrifices of these men and women be recognised - gay men and women served their country with honour and distinction during World War II, proved themselves as soldiers, sailors and patriots, and were met in most cases with hostility, persecution, prejudice and injustice. This is a fascinating and often heart-rending exploration of both the experiences of the men and women themselves, and the differing approaches the military took during the course of the war in handling its 'homosexual problem'. It was during World War II that the concept of the 'homosexual' as an individual, a sexual identity as opposed simply to a sexual act, first took root - and was enough on its own for that individual to be discharged from the service, deemed a 'sexual psychopath'.

Homosexuality was deemed incompatible with military service - the old stereotypes of gay men as effeminate, weak, flighty, hysterical, physically incapable doing their part to reinforce this belief. One did not even need to be caught in the act or to have committed any homosexual acts at all - mere 'tendencies' were enough. Some were lucky enough or valuable enough to the military in wartime to be deemed 'reclaimable' and were absorbed back into the military, often after a period of incarceration or hospitalization. Others were dishonourably discharged from the service and faced the loss of all benefits after the war.

Others hid their identity and tried to blend in, denying their sexuality to avoid persecution. It is one of the sad ironies of gay wartime history that at a time when America was fighting a war supposedly for freedom, against racism, intolerance and persecution, it was stripping gay servicemen and women of all rights, interrogating, humiliating and brutalising them, holding them in 'queer stockades', denying their service and sacrifice.

The treatment meted out to some of these men and women was truly abhorrent - and whilst the US government has apologised to the Japanese-American community for their treatment during World War II, it is yet to make any such gesture to the many thousands of gay men and women who received treatment equally as appalling, both during World War II and afterwards. I found this an excellent book, and as I said, an important one. Pick up any book of World War II - how many even mention the service of gay men and women beyond a sentence at most?

The contribution gay men and women have made throughout history is too often ignored or sidelined as a niche category of historical studies. Aug 14, Jeffrey Covey rated it really liked it. This is a compelling and readable book resulting from an important project, one of those we can be grateful were completed while the veterans were still alive to give first-hand accounts. The gamut of experience is laid out here, from the difficulty gay soldiers sometimes had just getting This is a compelling and readable book resulting from an important project, one of those we can be grateful were completed while the veterans were still alive to give first-hand accounts.

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The gamut of experience is laid out here, from the difficulty gay soldiers sometimes had just getting in and finding their place in the service and the harrowing abuse and persecution many faced during and after discharge, to the eye-opening small-town gays and lesbians experienced on being moved to cities and discovering thriving gay culture for the first time, and the positions of respect and acceptance many were able to achieve in their units.

Particularly moving were the heart-wrenching accounts of soldiers who watched their lovers die in combat, and the surprising compassion and support they received in their grief from their fellow G. I would have enjoyed hearing even more of this oral history.

This is a well composed book, complete with photos, of the hidden phenomenon of gay soldiers in World War II. From the archives the author pieces together the American public and government reaction to the sudden, unavoidable appearance of homosexuals in combat units and elsewhere. The unprecedented scandal fired over-active imaginations, and the nation's schizophrenic reactions demonstrate a tortured clash between public hatred and military necessity.

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Animating the book are many well chosen firs This is a well composed book, complete with photos, of the hidden phenomenon of gay soldiers in World War II. Animating the book are many well chosen first-person accounts, including interviews with gay vets who survived the war. One photo, of military police inside San Francisco's Kit Kat Club on the lookout for servicemen, is alone worth the price of the book. A show-stopping vignette tells of a confused staff meeting in which straight officers in the Pacific Theater have to grapple with "the goings-on under the coconut trees.

It crosses over to the public at large, so straight fans of World War II history will find this, too, another book to expand their reading on the subject. Having this combination of timelessness and human interest, I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys World War II reading.

May 21, Just A. It would be interesting to read equivalent books for other countries during the same period, as this only covered the USA, but it did seem to cover it very well. I was impressed at what a wide variety of experiences people had, from being persecuted and kicked out to being more or less out and no one caring, depending on the time, place and individuals involved. I wish there had been more about lesbians, but there were at least somewhat included. I liked how many interviews and letters the autho It would be interesting to read equivalent books for other countries during the same period, as this only covered the USA, but it did seem to cover it very well.

I liked how many interviews and letters the author quoted. Hopefully they're all around for other people to use. Until the last chapter, I didn't realise that this book was twenty five years old, and was probably something of a polemic against oppression in the armed forces.

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I kept waiting for his history to get up to DADT, but it stopped just shy of that. Well written over all, in any case, though someone should have taken the word "ironically" away from him. This book was fascinating and thought provoking. The writing style was somewhat dry and a little repetitive as is the nature of a non-fiction study. The author did an excellent job collecting source material from the people involved and didn't have to rely solely on statistics and case files. Homosexuality in the military has always been a controversial topic.

Mainly because the military assumes that sexual orientation in some way reflects on ability to carry out the necessary functions of a sold This book was fascinating and thought provoking. Mainly because the military assumes that sexual orientation in some way reflects on ability to carry out the necessary functions of a soldier. Soldiers that were discovered to be gay or lesbian were harassed and dishonorably discharged despite months or years of faithful service.

Even today the military embraces a policy of non-acceptance. What I found most fascinating about this book is how the military's anti-gay policy was almost like a self fulfilling prophecy.


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Before cracking down on gays, it seems like they lived a relatively normal existence within the military, and it wasn't until they were stigmatized and forced to remain wholly within the closet that problems such as homophobia, stress and morale came into play. It's also pitiful how little has been done to change military policy since WWII. DADT isn't much of an improve What I found most fascinating about this book is how the military's anti-gay policy was almost like a self fulfilling prophecy.

DADT isn't much of an improvement. Although I am opposed to all war, I believe that if we're still going to keep having them, all people gay, straight, male or female should be allowed to fight in them. Jul 03, Jim rated it it was amazing. This is a non-fiction book, history, really, but so much of it reads like a good detective novel. For gays and lesbians this is just such a good, enlightening and yes, empowering story. May 08, Sean rated it really liked it. I found this fascinating, intriguing, and frustruating. There were so many contradictions of thought regarding the prescence of gays and lesbians in the military, some were reviled, others were celebrated.

Tragic consistency is mostly in the post-war period, as discharged veterans often found greater difficulties when in possession of "blue papers" that often explicitly indicated their sexual orientation. These men and women often endured time spent in mental hospitals or brigs as the military d I found this fascinating, intriguing, and frustruating.

These men and women often endured time spent in mental hospitals or brigs as the military didn't quite know what to do with them once they were "found out". It's a must read for students of glbt history. Nov 14, Jimmus rated it it was amazing. I had no idea there were gays in WWII, let alone a full culture. The books takes you through before the draft, dealing with the doctors, military life, to dishonorable discharges and after the war with interview, military briefings, court cases.

But, also, then the men and women who the policy it first targets, fought and died for their country like the rest of their generation.


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I would have liked more human-interest, first person accounts, but it's clear the purpose of the book was to encapsulate and address military policy towards homosexuals. In that, it did an admirable job, and I understand the difficulty the author faced in even collecting all this information. A good introduction to the time and fantastic for broadening one's view of the conflict.

I'd recommend following up this read with memoirs or letters by gay soldiers in order to better round out one's under I would have liked more human-interest, first person accounts, but it's clear the purpose of the book was to encapsulate and address military policy towards homosexuals. I'd recommend following up this read with memoirs or letters by gay soldiers in order to better round out one's understanding. This was a really interesting read. It really gave a whole new outlook to the study of WWII history and LGBT history although it really didn't include much about bisexuals or transgenders.

Some of the information made me laugh, other information made me frustrated. The only thing I have to really complain about it is that it really barely touched on minority groups - it would have been nice to see that information presented with this work. Otherwise, I'd say it's definitely something you shoul This was a really interesting read. Otherwise, I'd say it's definitely something you should read if you're interested in gender studies or WWII history.

Sep 13, Carl rated it it was amazing. I feel, is a story that needs telling.. It was broadcasted on PBS some years ago, and. I must say, it more than interesting.. Just as African-Americans fought for the right to serve in all branches of the armed forces, during WWII, young gays and lesbians did their part. And, many had found out about themselves. Another 'must-read', whether one is straight, or, gay..

I had read it a third time, and, it is still enlightning.. Put together very well. Definitely a recommended read for anybody interested in military history, regardless of queer bent.

Coming out under fire : the history of gay men and women in World War Two

Jun 18, David Sullivan rated it really liked it. It opened my eyes to a neglected part of history. Sometimes sad to read because of the way the United States government and the military treated citizens just for being bi, gay, or lesbian. Hundreds of thousands served with honor. Depending on the region of service and the manner of commanding officers,many were accepted and honored; others castigated and disgraced.

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