Perry Watkins
Encyclopedia
Perry Watkins was an African-American gay
man and one of the first soldiers to have some success in challenging the ban against homosexuals in the United States Military.
in 1948. The United States Army
drafted him in 1968. During his entrance examination, he stated that he was homosexual when military officials asked him, yet they still admitted him. Disproving ideas that openly gay soldiers would be threatened by homophobic
peers, Watkins stated that everyone on the base knew that he was gay. He dressed in drag
(under the name Simone), and the Army publicized it rather than castigating him for it. When he challenged the military's anti-gay ban, the 9th Circuit court decided in his favor, in Watkins v. United State Army, 875 F.2d 699 (1989).
In the early 1990s, the Don't ask, don't tell
policy for gays in the military was enacted during the presidency of Bill Clinton
. According to Keith Boykin
in One More River to Cross
, Watkins felt betrayed by gay rights leaders of all races for not seeking his assistance.
Watkins died on March 17, 1996 at his home in Tacoma, Washington
of complications relating to AIDS
.
His life and views have been detailed in the aforementioned Boykin book, in Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military by Randy Shilts
, and in My Country, My Right to Serve, by Mary Ann Humphrey. The University of Michigan Law School
has named a fellowship in his honor.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
man and one of the first soldiers to have some success in challenging the ban against homosexuals in the United States Military.
Biography
Perry Watkins was born in MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1948. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
drafted him in 1968. During his entrance examination, he stated that he was homosexual when military officials asked him, yet they still admitted him. Disproving ideas that openly gay soldiers would be threatened by homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
peers, Watkins stated that everyone on the base knew that he was gay. He dressed in drag
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
(under the name Simone), and the Army publicized it rather than castigating him for it. When he challenged the military's anti-gay ban, the 9th Circuit court decided in his favor, in Watkins v. United State Army, 875 F.2d 699 (1989).
In the early 1990s, the Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy for gays in the military was enacted during the presidency of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. According to Keith Boykin
Keith Boykin
Keith Boykin is an American broadcaster, author and commentator. He is editor of The Daily Voice, a CNBC contributor, and a co-host of the BET TV talk show My Two Cents.-Biography:...
in One More River to Cross
One More River to Cross
One More River to Cross: Black and Gay in America is a 1996 book written by Keith Boykin, who ran a now-defunct national black gay and lesbian organization. He begins the book by describing his life, including coming out at Harvard Law School, working for President Bill Clinton, and his first...
, Watkins felt betrayed by gay rights leaders of all races for not seeking his assistance.
Watkins died on March 17, 1996 at his home in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
of complications relating to AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
His life and views have been detailed in the aforementioned Boykin book, in Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military by Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts was a pioneering gay American journalist and author. He worked as a freelance reporter for both The Advocate and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as for San Francisco Bay Area television stations....
, and in My Country, My Right to Serve, by Mary Ann Humphrey. The University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
has named a fellowship in his honor.
External links
- Article on Perry Watkins at Socialism.com
- Perry Watkins Biography with Photo
- Stratton, Stephen; Perry Watkins: Biography answers.com