What a society accepts as normal changes over time. As it does, inevitably the military organizations that protects that society adapt to reflect those changes. Throughout history, the U.S. military has both led and lagged societal changes. Heather Haley is in the studio to discuss how the Department of Defense has handled LGBT issues and the changing attitudes in American society. She joins guest host Carrie Lee for a conversation about the acceptance of lesbian, gay ,and bisexual service members and the ongoing discussion about transgender service members.
Studying the impact of the military both in peace and in war tells us a lot about the human experience.
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Heather M. Haley is a historian for the Naval History and Heritage Command at the Washington Navy Yard. A social historian of the Cold War U.S. Navy, Dr. Haley is the author of the forthcoming book from Cornell University Press titled Queer in the Cold War in which she traces the concurrent civil lawsuits brought against military department secretaries by queer personnel in the early-to-mid-1970s. She is an active member of a number of the SECNAV LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, which endeavors to advance equality, safety, and inclusivity in the modern U.S. Navy.
Carrie A. Lee is an associate professor at the U.S. Army War College, where she serves as the chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy and director of the USAWC Center on Civil-Military Relations. She received her Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University and a B.S. from MIT.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Navy or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Diversity Committee presents cake at a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month observance at NAVCENT Headquarters, June 29, 2017. Initially established as “Gay and Lesbian Month” by Presidential Proclamation in 2000, LGBT Pride Month recognizes the accomplishments of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christina Brewer