Perry Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perry Watkins
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| Born | August 20, 1948 Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | March 17, 1996 (aged 47) Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
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| Other names | Simone |
| Occupation | United States soldier |
| Known for | Fighting the gay-exclusionary policy of the United States military |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Rank |  Sergeant First Class |
Perry Watkins (born August 20, 1948 – died March 17, 1996) was an American soldier. He was one of the first service members to challenge the rules against people who were gay in the United States military. He fought for fairness and equal treatment.
Early Life and Army Career
Perry James Henry Watkins was born in Joplin, Missouri, on August 20, 1948. His mother, Ola Watkins, was a nurse. When he was a teenager, his family moved, and he went to Tacoma Lincoln High School. Perry was always open about his identity. He enjoyed dancing and won speech contests.
In August 1967, Perry was living in Germany. His stepfather was serving in the U.S. military there. Perry was called to join the Army. During his first check-up, he told an Army doctor he was gay. Later, in May 1968, during another check-up in Tacoma, Washington, he again said he was homosexual. Even so, the doctor said he was "qualified for military service." Perry did not try to stop being drafted.
Perry was first supposed to work as a chaplain's assistant. But he was moved from that job because of his identity. He was not discharged from the Army, though. Instead, he was trained to be a personnel clerk. If anyone bothered him for being gay, he made it clear he would stand up for himself. So, people usually left him alone. Throughout his time in the military, he never hid who he was.
After his first time in the Army ended on May 8, 1970, he found it hard to get a good job. A year later, he joined the Army again to continue his education. He once more stated his identity and was allowed to rejoin. Sometimes, he would dress up and perform as a female impersonator. He used the name Simone. He first performed outside the Army. Then he performed at shows sponsored by the Army in West Germany. His performances were very popular. This led to him performing at clubs on other U.S. bases in Europe.
In 1972, military investigators thought about removing him from the service. This was because of his identity. But they decided his own statements were not enough proof. They closed their investigation when Perry would not give them names of other people. He later served in Korea and Italy. He joined the Army again for six years in 1974.
Another investigation into his identity happened in October 1975. The Army decided that his excellent service record meant he should stay. This was true even though he was openly gay. His security clearance was checked again in 1978. This happened because his commanding officer insisted. He joined the Army for another three years in 1979. This was the third time he had rejoined without any problems. He decided he wanted to serve twenty years in the Army. This way, he could retire with a pension. He also earned a college degree in business administration.
Fighting for His Rights
Perry was stationed in Tacoma, where he grew up. Another check of his security clearance caused the Army to take it away. This stopped him from being promoted to sergeant first class. In February 1981, Perry appealed this decision. He had a lawyer from the ACLU, a group that protects people's rights. He wrote in his appeal: "I believe I have always been punished for being honest. I will always continue to admit my homosexuality in the future. The Army has decided many times that my homosexuality is not a problem for my military career."
When the Army did not respond to Perry's letter, his lawyer filed a lawsuit. This happened in a federal court in Seattle. The Army then started the process to discharge him. New rules said that just admitting to being gay was enough to be dismissed. So, Perry's own letter would be used against him. The Army had recently lost a similar case with another gay service member, Leonard Matlovich. But they still expected to win against Perry. The Army said Perry did not answer questions about his future actions.
But in October 1982, Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein ruled in Perry's favor. She said the Army could not use Perry's statements against him. This was because they had let him serve many times. They had also given him security clearances, even though they knew he was gay. As the case continued, the Army let Perry join for another six years. But it was understood he would be removed if the court's decision was not upheld. In 1983, the Army stopped him from dancing in drag at an Army recreation center. A group of three judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit disagreed with the first court's decision in 1983. They said the lower court could not make Army officials go against Army rules. This was unless the rules themselves were found to be wrong.
Perry was separated from the Army at the end of his enlistment in 1984. He then worked for the Social Security Administration in Tacoma from 1984 to 1994.
Perry kept fighting his discharge. He believed the military's rule against gay and lesbian people serving was unfair. In 1988, he said: "For 16 years the Army said being homosexual wasn't bad for my job. Then, after all that time, they said it was. Logic is a lost art in the Army." The American Psychological Association supported his case when it reached the Ninth Circuit court.
A group of three judges from the Ninth Circuit court decided 2 to 1 in his favor. This was in the case Watkins v. United States Army. The court said that gay people are a "suspect class." This meant the court had to look very closely at whether there was a strong reason for a rule that treated gay people differently. The court decided that keeping gay people out of the military was unfair. This ruling only looked at being gay as a status, not at specific actions.
In June 1988, the Ninth Circuit court agreed to hear the case again with more judges. The eleven-judge panel found that the Army could not use Perry's statements and actions against him. But they did not rule on the larger fairness issues. This was the first time a U.S. appeals court ruled against the U.S. military's ban on gay and lesbian service members. The government tried to get the Supreme Court to review the decision, but it did not happen. Perry first planned to rejoin the Army. But instead, he settled for a promotion to sergeant first class, $135,000 in back pay, full retirement benefits, and an honorable discharge.
Later Years
Perry Watkins was one of the main leaders of New York City's Gay Pride Parade in June 1993. He died on March 17, 1996, at his home in Tacoma, Washington. He passed away due to health issues.
Legacy
A 1994 documentary film, Sis: The Perry Watkins Story, tells about his time as a female impersonator.
The University of Michigan Law School gives out a special award each year. It is called the Perry Watkins Fellowship, in his honor.
Papers about his lawsuits are kept at the Lambda Archives of San Diego.
Season 3, episode 2 of the podcast Making Gay History is about him.
See also
- Sexual orientation and the United States military
