Pentagon lists homosexuality as mental disorder

Posted by Melissa McEwan at 7:08 AM on June 20, 2006.

33 years behind the curve

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Pam Spaulding points to this article at SFGate.com, which would be alarming if it weren't so frustratingly par for the course with the nutwit homophobes tasked with running the country these days.

A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

The document outlines retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities, and in a section on defects lists homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Critics said the reference underscores the Pentagon's failing policies on gays, and adds to a culture that has created uncertainty and insecurity around the treatment of homosexual service members, leading to anti-gay harassment.

The American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973, and has condemned the Pentagon document, known as "a Defense Department Instruction." Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jeremy M. Martin said "the policy document is under review," perhaps because nine members of Congress have sent a letter to Rumsfeld pointing out that "other Pentagon regulations dealing with mental health do not include homosexuality on any lists of psychological disorders."

What about narcissistic personality disorder? Is that of any concern to the Pentagon?

(Pam's House Blend, Eschaton)

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Melissa McEwan writes and edits the blog Shakespeare's Sister.

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What next??? [Report this comment] Posted by: JoshuaLudd on Jun 20, 2006 6:50 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Next you'll tell me they still kick people out for being gay, or something.... [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] They had to do it, which doesn't make it right,.......... [Report this comment] Posted by: tap17x on Jun 20, 2006 7:39 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] .........because there's no valid excuse for excluding gays. The real "reason", as if reason were involved, is that the theofascists in the government demand it. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] What Do You Expect? [Report this comment] Posted by: Matthew13 on Jun 20, 2006 8:40 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Well, you can at least give the military points for consistency. With the excpetion of actual weapons systems, the military is generally about 40 years behind the curve. One of our problems in Iraq is that the military was (and largely, is) set up for large, flashy ground wars involving tanks and air power. They are not set up for asymetrical warfare, even though the Vietnam mess should have underlined the importance of this different style of war. Which is to say, that our military was still set up to fight the Korean War. Speaking from personal experience, the military changes very slowly, not only in tactical and strategic doctrine, but in their culture. Nor is this entirely an bad, reactionary thing. Part of any culture is tradition, and one of the main pillars underpinning the effectiveness of any fighting force is the traditions around which it is built. For example, Chesty Puller's stand in Korea informs the Marine tradition of courage, toughness, and an unwillingness to back down. . .all valuable things in any fighting force. And, right now, nothing in the military culture or tradition tolerates gays. Hell, women are still, by and large, poorly regarded. . .another bit of military culture that is very slow to change. So, is it any wonder, that the service siezes on any reason to marginalize gays (and, incidentally, maintain the existing culture and traditions) even if the reason used is thirty-plus years out of date? Oh, and incidentally, don't read the above as a justification, but as an explanation. My personal view is that the only thing sexual orientation has to do with is sexual orientation. Why people insist on making such a big deal of this sort of thing just baffles the hell out of me. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] It baffles me, too [Report this comment] Posted by: deha on Jun 20, 2006 10:10 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'm still struggling to understand how one's sexual orientation is a threat or, quite frankly, anyone else's business. I guess it's because a certain segment of the population must have someone to hate or to feel superior to. Sigh. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] madashell [Report this comment] Posted by: abby on Jun 20, 2006 11:53 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Has the Pentagon gone into the Mental Health field now? What are their qualifications? They are the ones who are nuts!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Crazy Hawks! [Report this comment] Posted by: Steven Wanzell on Jun 20, 2006 12:41 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The most enraging fact in all this, is that the military is now so dangerously influential in running the country, after so many decades of being nothing more (or less!) than a cash cow for the military industrial Empire. It's the rip-off of the century that just keeps on ripping. Steven Wanzell artsist/activist/ex-American www.wanzellarts.com.ar [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] How backward! [Report this comment] Posted by: davewuxi on Jun 21, 2006 3:14 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Many people , mistakenly, classify China as a represive, backward nation. But, even China took homosexuality off the mental health list years ago. So much for the 'advanced' nations. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] unbelievable [Report this comment] Posted by: moontime on Jun 21, 2006 7:40 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The entire Bush Regime is mentally ill, and seriously out of touch with reality. I'm terrified for this country. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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