The Lavender Bans: A Century of Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies in the US Military

Author:   Dorian Rhea Debussy
Publisher:   Columbia University Press
ISBN:  

9780231205757


Pages:   224
Publication Date:   10 March 2026
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Awaiting stock   Availability explained


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The Lavender Bans: A Century of Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies in the US Military


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Full Product Details

Author:   Dorian Rhea Debussy
Publisher:   Columbia University Press
Imprint:   Columbia University Press
ISBN:  

9780231205757


ISBN 10:   0231205759
Pages:   224
Publication Date:   10 March 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Awaiting stock   Availability explained

Table of Contents

Reviews

The Lavender Bans gives us the long view we’ve been missing. Debussy connects wars, contexts, and debates to the policies they produced. This book confronts the ever-shifting rationales for banning LGBTQ+ military service—often contradicted by the government’s own data—with rigor and clarity. -- Retired US Space Force Col. Bree Fram Debussy does a great service in laying clear the through line of anti-LGBTQ+ policy—its impetus, intent, and actual impact—across a century-plus of American history. It is essential reading for anyone serious about the human element of rational, fair, and effective national security institutions -- Retired US Navy Cdr. Shawn Skelly, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness (2021–2025) With trenchant analysis and original historical research, Debussy helps readers understand the rise and fall of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ contemporary developments concerning the Trump administration’s transgender ban, and much more. This book’s critical contributions and insights will be of great interest to activists, academics, policymakers, and service members alike. -- Aaron Belkin, Professor of Political Science, San Francisco State University, and Executive Director of the Palm Center By tracing anti-LGBTQ+ policy developments in the military and intelligence community over the course of a century, The Lavender Bans offers new insights on how the policy decisions of the past inform our present and future. With a reader-friendly approach that will appeal to a wide variety of audiences, Debussy provides insights that will shape future discussions about LGBTQ+ inclusion in America's armed forces. -- Eric Fanning, former Secretary of the US Army (2016–2017) and former Undersecretary of the US Air Force (2013–2015)


The Lavender Bans gives us the long view we’ve been missing. Debussy connects wars, contexts, and debates to the policies they produced. This book confronts the ever-shifting rationales for banning LGBTQ+ military service—often contradicted by the government’s own data—with rigor and clarity. -- Bree Fram, Col (Ret), U.S. Space Force Dr. Debussy does a great service in laying clear the through line of anti-LGBTQ+ policy; its impetus, intent, and actual impact, across a century-plus of American history. It is essential reading for anyone serious about the human element of rational, fair, and effective national security institutions. -- Shawn Skelly, CDR USN (Ret), former assistant secretary of defense for readiness (2021–2025)


The Lavender Bans gives us the long view we’ve been missing. Debussy connects wars, contexts, and debates to the policies they produced. This book confronts the ever-shifting rationales for banning LGBTQ+ military service—often contradicted by the government’s own data—with rigor and clarity. -- Bree Fram, Col (Ret), U.S. Space Force Dr. Debussy does a great service in laying clear the through line of anti-LGBTQ+ policy; its impetus, intent, and actual impact, across a century-plus of American history. It is essential reading for anyone serious about the human element of rational, fair, and effective national security institutions. -- Shawn Skelly, CDR USN (Ret), former assistant secretary of defense for readiness (2021–2025) The Lavender Bans is a carefully researched book that traces the development of anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the American military and intelligence community from World War I to the present. With trenchant analysis and original historical research, Debussy helps readers understand the rise and fall of ""Don't Ask, Don't Tell,"" contemporary developments concerning the Trump administration's transgender ban, and much more. This book's critical contributions and insights will be of great interest to activists, academics, policymakers, and service members alike. -- Aaron Belkin, professor of political science, San Francisco State University and founding executive director of the Palm Center


Author Information

Dorian Rhea Debussy is the director of external affairs at Equitas Health. A nationally recognized expert in LGBTQ+ politics, she specializes in healthcare and defense policy. Debussy is a lecturer in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at the Ohio State University.

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