From Gay Rights and American Law:

“[Court] cases involving gays in the military were the least successful [category, with lesbian and gay litigants winning less than 25 percent of the time].” (Page 9)

“The United States is the only major Western power to discharge military personnel because of their sexual orientation. . . . [M]ost stories about gays in the military involve ineffable personal tragedy.” (Pages 53-54)

V.        Lesbians and Gays in the Military

            A.        Ban Against Lesbians and Gays Prior to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Dronenburg v. Zech, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 1984

Watkins v. U.S. Army, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1988

Watkins v. U.S. Army, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1989

                        Lloyd v. Grella, New York Court of Appeals, 1994

Steffan v. Perry, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 1994

Gay and Lesbian Law Students Association v. Board of Trustees, Connecticut Supreme Court, 1996

            B.        “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Thomasson v. Perry, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1996

                        Philips v. Perry, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1997