Waiting for the Padded Cell
Pentagon says homosexuality not a mental disorder
By Will Dunham
Reuters
Wednesday, June 28, 2006; 3:30 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon no longer deems homosexuality a mental disorder,
officials said on Wednesday, although the reversal has no impact on U.S. policy prohibiting
openly gay people from serving in the military.
After a 1996 Pentagon document placing homosexuality among a list of "certain mental
disorders" came to light this month, the American Psychiatric Association and a handful of
lawmakers asked the Defense Department to change its view.
The Pentagon said in a statement: "Homosexuality should not have been characterized as a
mental disorder in an appendix of a procedural instruction. A clarification will be issued
over the next few days."
Damn, I'm not nuts after all.
By Will Dunham
Reuters
Wednesday, June 28, 2006; 3:30 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon no longer deems homosexuality a mental disorder,
officials said on Wednesday, although the reversal has no impact on U.S. policy prohibiting
openly gay people from serving in the military.
After a 1996 Pentagon document placing homosexuality among a list of "certain mental
disorders" came to light this month, the American Psychiatric Association and a handful of
lawmakers asked the Defense Department to change its view.
The Pentagon said in a statement: "Homosexuality should not have been characterized as a
mental disorder in an appendix of a procedural instruction. A clarification will be issued
over the next few days."
Damn, I'm not nuts after all.