Coming Out Under Fire summary

Facing Discrimination in WWII

In Allan Bérubé's engaging work, Coming Out Under Fire, we delve into the struggles homosexual men and women faced during WWII. The book opens with the chapter 'Mobilizing Men', detailing how in the early phases of the war, the US Military denoted homosexuality as a disqualifying trait for services. Despite this, many homosexuals joined the military, drawn in part by the same patriotic fervor that stirred their heterosexual counterparts.

During military service, homosexuals risked discovery and discharge, leading to a life of secrecy in the armed forces. However, this shared struggle also began to forge a sense of community and identity among homosexuals in the military, a topic Bérubé covers comprehensively in the chapters 'Finding Each Other' and 'Creating a Subculture'.

The Emergence of Homophile Consciousness

The crux of Coming Out Under Fire lies in the emergence of what Bérubé calls a 'homophile consciousness'. Sweeping institutional policies brought together homosexual soldiers who otherwise might have remained isolated. Within the confines of the military, a shared identity took root among these individuals. Socializing, expressing themselves, and even celebrating their orientation, the homogeneous military environment ironically acted as an incubator for the nascent Gay Rights Movement.

Although suppressed during the war, this unifying consciousness would have far-reaching effects. The concluding part of Bérubé's work looks at how the post-war period in America saw the political birth of the homophile (gay rights) movement.

Blue Discharge: A Mark of Shame

Coming Out Under Fire also delves into the darker side of being a homosexual in the military during WWII. Bérubé specifically discusses the 'Blue Discharge', an administrative discharge which was neither honorable nor dishonorable. This discharge, however, was predominantly given to homosexuals and marked them with a lasting stigma, impacting their civilian life and employment opportunities.

Additionally, Bérubé discusses the military's viewpoint towards homosexuality. He shares that rather than understanding and accepting same-sex fantasies and acts as normal human behaviors, the military labeled these as symptoms of mental disorders. They made homosexuals undergo 'treatments' that ranged from psychoanalysis to aversion therapy.

Implications for the Post-war Society

Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, the conclusion of Coming Out Under Fire demonstrates the resilience of the homosexual community. After the war, veterans used the burgeoning 'homophile' identity to combat prejudice publicly, thus paving the way for the modern LGBTQ+ movement. They demanded equal consideration for employment and medical treatment and questioned the fundamental belief that homosexuality was a mental disease.

In essence, Coming Out Under Fire not only chronicles the military experience of homosexuals during WWII but also unravels the broader societal implications. Their struggle shaped the contours of the post-war world, ultimately contributing to social acceptance and policy changes regarding homosexuality in the United States.