Description
Perry James Henry Watkins was the only openly gay person discharged from the U.S. Army with full honors after serving for
nearly two decades. Watkins fought for this distinction, suing the Army after being forced out in 1979 because of his sexual
orientation. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Background
Perry James Henry Watkins was the only openly gay person discharged from the U.S. Army with full honors after serving for
nearly two decades. Watkins fought for this distinction, suing the Army after being forced out in 1979 because of his sexual
orientation. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, Watkins received his draft summons. He marked “yes” on his inductee questionnaire when asked
about “homosexual tendencies.” The Army responded by sending him to a psychiatrist who interrogated Watkins about his sexuality
but also asked if Watkins had a problem serving his country. Watkins answered, “No problem.” Consequently, his military
career as an openly gay man began in May 1968. Several times in those early years he tried to leave the military due to his
sexual orientation after hearing that the Army dismissed several white gay peers for that reason. The military, however,
denied Watkins’ requests. He surmised that the primary reason for this differential treatment was his race.
After his first two years of service Watkins re-enlisted because he needed financial aid for college. On his re-enlistment
questionnaire, he again marked “yes” to having homosexual tendencies. Watkins served twice in Korea in the early 1970s. During
this period, he signed up to entertain the troops using his female impersonator role, Simone, and performed in Army clubs
in Germany and throughout Europe. Watkins received several commendations during his years of service. In 1975, without warning,
Watkins’ commanding officer started proceedings to discharge him. A hearing was held in October of that year beginning a
four year long administrative process to remove him. Watkins, however, now fought these charges. In 1979, his military-clearance
renewal was rejected due to his gay status. Two years later he sued the Army, which responded by discharging him for being
gay.
That the Army had earlier accepted Watkins’s sexual orientation early in his career and then later removed him for it, became
the center of his nine-year legal challenge, which was decided in 1990 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court rejected the
Army’s argument and ordered him to be reinstated with back pay, retirement benefits, and retroactive promotion to Sergeant
First Class. Watkins was then honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1990.