There’s no doubt that there have been some backwards fears regarding the LBGT community. Starting during World War II, there was a ban on LGBT individuals serving in the US military due to the fear they had an “aggressive personality disorder.” Even men who possessed “feminine characteristics” could be dismissed from the military. Homophobic much?

As a small step in the right direction, President Clinton enacted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 1993. Even with this policy, the military would cut the service member’s severance in half if they were involuntarily discharged from service due to “homosexuality.” So…We won’t ask; you don’t tell, but if we find out, we’ll discharge you and cut your separation pay in half. In 2010, the ACLU won a major victory on behalf of all servicemen and women who had been discharged under this policy. In Collins vs. the United States, the Court ruled in favor of Collins and other service members included in the class-action law suit.

Finally, in 2011, President Obama lifted any ban on gays being able to openly serve in the military.