Gays and the Draft

NOTE: The Selective Service or many know it as The Draft ended the same day the Vietnam War “ended” Jan. 27, 1973. Before this time, there were various articles about the draft and how it affected the gay community.

[need month] 1971 The Fountain issue page 2 – More Gay Draft Help by George Nicholas

Several months ago, THE FOUNTAIN Published an article about gays and Selective Service. Since then, we have had a number of inquiries, but there are many draft hassled gays who have not yet been reached. A good deal of bad advice is coming from straight gays are going for help, and gays are going for help, and some of the abuse is continuing at the Portland Forces Entrance and Examination Station.

Two things must be made clear. First, all branches of the Armed Forces still have stringent regulations against homosexual activity that might lead to less than honor discharges, a problem that could have a lifetime of consequences. Secondly, Selective Service regulations still hold homosexuality as a reason for question concerning it has question concerning it has been deleted from form 93. Hence, no homosexual has to go in. For all the hassles that a gay draftee might have at his pre-induction physical, he will always win out if he refuses to be in imitated. [last paragraph] Given the difficult decision that must be made, it is important that gay draftees get advice from a trained counselor who is also gay. All those wishing help may call Pat at 224-9307 or visit the Koinonia House at S.W Broadway and Montgomery near Portland State University. [this is just part of the article]

The below article is from August 1971 The Fountain newspaper issue page 20

See May 1972 the Fountain page 9 GAY SOLDIER GIVEN DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE

On. Good Friday, Pfc. Philip Andrew Schmidt, 20, was handed an Andrew Schmidt, 20, was handed an undesirable discharge from the Army for being Gay. The separation concluded a 62-day ordeal of threats, detention, isolation, frustration, terror, and an attempted suicide. The apparent harassment, along with the unfavorable discharge which robs him of most Veterans’ benefits, was the result of bureaucratic was the result or bureaucratic suspicion about his homosexuality and the confusion in the Army regulations themselves regarding the discharge of homosexuals. [There is a  full page article  and details the process of Philp’s discharge]

Page 29, The Fountain, June 1972 page 3 Military Life Difficult for Women

The armed forces have for many years served as an above ground for women. [There is a story about Jane cited in the book Sexual Variations by Dr. Frank Caprico] One officer, a captain, referred Jane to an Army psychiatrist who tried to get her to admit openly to him that she was a homosexual. …Beyond the chain link fences military bases, Joan found gay life in the large mid-Atlantic city where she was stationed to be as much of a problem. [interesting to the conclusion] Joan said, “I guess I just want to warn other gay women who might be considering the Army or Navy as a place to go, not to do it. As it is worse in the Army.”  [Reprinted originally from the March -April issue of Focus – presumably 1972]

Page 20, The Fountain, June 1972– PORTLAND GAYS PROTEST WAR

On invitation from the Student Mobilization Committee, Portland gays played an active part in antigay activities in the past month. Their participation, however,  was not without gripes about their own treatment. Early in the planning stages, one gay woman walked out of a meeting after a wisecrack was made about Women’s Liberation, As a result, the Women’s GLF did not participate in subsequent activities. Larry Dow, head of Portland State’s Larry Dow, head of Portland State’s Gay Men’s Union, complained he was at when carrying a gay sign in the April 22 march. [this is just a portion of the article]

Page 15, The Fountain, September 1972 WELCOME BILL PARTY AT SIDEDOOR – Bill from Vietnam
Portland - -Nikki and The Sidedoor welcomes Bill was the theme backing Sunday nights homecoming for Bill from Vietnam. [this is just a portion of the article] presented by Scarlet O’Hara

Below LEFT, Article in the Oregon Journal September 22, 1972 page 5 Anti-War Session Set. Below RIGHT The Fountain newspaper Page 3, December 1972 – GAY PROTEST WAR

Portland gays participated the November 18 march, constituting one of the largest continents with high visibility and even their own slogans. The gay contingent was sponsored by the Portland State Gay Peoples Alliance, which leafletted heavily for two weeks previous to3 the marcb throughout the ay meeting places. Protesters carried various signs calling I an end to the war and to Gay oppression, shout slogans such as “1,2,3,4, top the bombing, stop the war; 5,.6,7,8, Gay is just as good straight,” Straight protesters were given leaflets explaining the Gay Movement …”  [this is just a portion of the article]

In the February 1973 issue of The Fountain, under GAYS PROTEST THE WAR – there were protests in Seattle and Portland see Below.

citations & references:

  • Gay Draft Help 228-0885 if no answer call 224-9307 [In The Fountain April 1973 issue under Gay Numbers.]

  •  Check out article PROBE – Leonard Matlovih BEHIND THE COVERS OF TIME page 10, 11, 12 – Northwest Gay Review Jan-Feb 1976

  • LARGE article in Northwest Gay Review – page 24, 25 May-June 1976 INTERVIEW: Douglas Wyman