CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Theodore Sarbin, a social psychologist whose 1988 study for the Department of Defense called for the repeal of the military's gay ban, died on August 31. He was 94. His death was reported in Wednesday's New York Times. Sarbin examined the role of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in the Armed Forces with Kenneth Karols in the 1988 report "Nonconforming Sexual Orientations and Military Suitability" for the Defense Personnel Security Research and Education Center. The report concluded that lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members were as capable of military service as their heterosexual counterparts, and it called on the Pentagon to reconsider its gay ban. Sarbin and Karols wrote, "Studies of homosexual veterans make clear that having a same-gender or an opposite-gender orientation is unrelated to job performance in the same way as being left- or right-handed." The Pentagon report, one of a handful on the issue of gays in the military, was kept secret until Gerry Studds, then a Democratic representative from Massachusetts, and other members of Congress forced its release. It was subsequently made public in the 1990 book Gays in Uniform: The Pentagon's Secret Reports, edited by Kate Dyer. "Our nation has lost an important scholar whose work honored the service of lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members and defended the opportunity for all Americans to serve, regardless of sexual orientation," stated C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Dr. Sarbin's service to our country and his landmark work in revealing the discriminatory nature of the military's gay ban made him an irreplaceable ally for our community. He will be deeply missed." Sarbin is survived by his companion, Karin Sobeck, a sister, three sons, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Genevieve Donahue Allen. (Advocate.com)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Iraq postpones vote on bill punishing gay sex with death
April 20 2024 1:31 PM
Russian poetry contest bans entries from transgender poets
April 20 2024 1:25 PM
Here's who won 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16
April 20 2024 1:01 PM
The Tip Off: A beginners guide to the WNBA
April 20 2024 11:06 AM
John Fetterman challenges Pa. school board’s cancellation of talk by gay actor
April 19 2024 2:39 PM
New study finds inadequate response to mpox outbreak
April 19 2024 2:06 PM
Fighting back against MAGA’s attacks on equality
April 19 2024 1:00 PM
Just one Christian Nationalist group is behind Idaho's bans on trans care and abortion
April 19 2024 11:57 AM
Linda Perry opens up in new documentary, premiering in June at Tribeca Festival
April 19 2024 11:43 AM
Trans woman loses lower legs in NYC subway attack. Now, friends rally to help her
April 19 2024 10:06 AM