# Do they deny homosexuals entrance into the armed services? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700 "2002-12-30T17:11:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/1 "2002-12-30T17:11:56Z")
If so, could one merely claim to be a homosexual to get out of being drafted? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/2 "2002-12-30T17:20:03Z")
In theory, yes. However, in times of war (when there actually a draft), the army would want more than just your say-so. In the Vietnam era, they demanded some sort of proof (IIRC, there was one example where someone was asked to produce a marriage license to another man to get off). Randy Shilts wrote a book about the history of gays in the military and the general pattern was: In peacetime, kick them out. In wartime, look the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/3 "2002-12-30T17:23:01Z")
What’s worse: having sex with a man to avoid armed service, or blowing out your right kneecap to do the same? I’d probably do that latter. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/4 "2002-12-30T17:23:49Z")
> [@](#): > > IIRC, there was one example where someone was asked to produce a marriage license to another man to get off). Would a gay porn video with the draftee as the star be sufficient proof? ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/5 "2002-12-30T18:51:35Z")
Recent thread on the subject: [What constitutes legal proof that one is gay?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147903) ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/6 "2002-12-30T19:08:33Z")
Well then, in times of war, the draft board will have a special room where all draftees who claim to be gay are led to. Inside will be fuzzy padded table with stirrups, a male nurse, a cowboy and a leather clad biker. Go figure out how they get positive proof. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-deny-homosexuals-entrance-into-the-armed-services/145700/7 "2002-12-30T19:36:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Splanky \* > \*\*What’s worse: having sex with a man to avoid armed service, or blowing out your right kneecap to do the same? I’d probably do that latter. \*\* No offense meant, but you be sick, dude.