Armed forces Quote by Dianne Feinstein
“The criteria for serving one's country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation, we deprive them of their rights of citizenship, and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Remarks on Military Service Equality, 1993
Excluding people based on sexual orientation from military service denies them citizenship rights and deprives the armed forces of capable volunteers.
In simple terms: Excluding gay people from the military harms both individuals and the military.
Key Takeaway
Promote equal service opportunities for all qualified citizens.
Themes
equality
citizenship
military service
rights
Mood
determined
advocacy
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- Recruitment policies
- legal challenges
- public opinion
- military readiness
Key Concepts
Civil rights
social inclusion
national security
Questions to Reflect On
- How does exclusion impact national security?
- What policies ensure both readiness and inclusion?
A Different Perspective
Opponents argue that inclusion may affect unit cohesion or morale.
![“[On gay ban in the military:] Heroism, I believe, is a trait that does not know race, color, creed, sex, or sexual orientation.” quote by Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86f/dianne-feinstein-7476_bans_on-gay-ban-in-the-military-heroism-i-bel_986510.jpg)
