Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military [Paperback]

Aaron Belkin (Editor), Geoffrey Bateman (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Lynne Rienner Pub; 1ST edition (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588261468
• ISBN-13: 978-1588261465
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,606,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dated but still worthwhile gathering of perspectives, April 10, 2005

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military (Paperback)

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military" is edited by Aaron Belkin and Geoffrey Bateman. The book collects the proceedings from a conference, held in December 2000, entitled "Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Is the Gay Ban Based on Military Necessity or Prejudice?" In the book's preface it is noted that views opposing the inclusion of gays in the military are underrepresented because some invitees declined to participate, and also because one invitee who supported the ban changed his position before the conference. The book focuses on the United States military.

The text is broken down into eight primary sections: (1) an introduction, (2) a historical overview, (3) an inquiry into whether or not the ban preserves soldiers' privacy, (4) an inquiry into whether or not the ban helps unit cohesion, (5) a discussion of the experience of foreign militaries, (6) a look at the cost, both financial and human, of the ban, (7) a pair of talks by two openly gay servicemen, and finally (8) an inquiry into the future of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

I found the book to be interesting and often thought-provoking. The substantial historical overview (pp. 9-49) discusses important studies of this issue, as well as significant court cases (Matlovich, Berg, Ben-Shalom, Steffan, etc.) that have challenged the ban. The discussion on foreign militaries features perspectives from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Israel. At times the discussion is quite moving, such as when activist Dixon Osburn discusses the impact of the ban on gay military people. Particularly fascinating are the personal stories of the two openly gay servicemen, U.S. Army officer Steve May and Royal Navy sailor Rob Nunn; both men show a human side to this controversy.

Although this is a valuable text, I was struck by how dated it feels. Because the conference predates the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are not addressed; both of these military campaigns are, in my opinion, critically relevant to the book's topic on multiple levels. Also ironic is the fact that the British ban on gays serving openly had been lifted less than a year before this conference; as I write this review that policy change is now over five years old. Still, the discussion is intriguing, and at their best the participants challenge assumptions and encourage genuine critical thinking on this very controversial issue.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent contribution to the debates, March 13, 2003

By 

N. Jones (West Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military (Paperback)

This collection offers an invaluable contribution to the debates about gays and lesbians serving in the military. For anyone interested in thinking through the issues rigorously, this book is a "must read."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect introduction to the field, March 11, 2003

By 

"emisue" (Santa Barbara, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Debating the Gay Ban in the Military (Paperback)

A compelling reading of an important, and increasingly timely, topic -- impressively well-researched and clearly written.