Inside The Pentagon’s Bizarre Plan For A ‘Gay Bomb’ Meant To Turn Soldiers On Each Other

In the 1990s, the United States Air Force reportedly explored one of its most bizarre and controversial military concepts: the creation of a so-called "gay bomb" intended to make enemy soldiers sexually attracted to one another.

The proposal, believed to have originated at the Wright Laboratory in 1994, was part of a wider weapons development program that, perhaps unsurprisingly, was eventually abandoned.

According to documents obtained by the Sunshine Project, an organization opposed to biological weapons, the concept was indeed being considered seriously at the time. The files were uncovered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The aim of the weapon was to disrupt enemy units by causing soldiers to become irresistibly attracted to one another, ultimately weakening cohesion and combat effectiveness.

The proposal even included a request for $7.5 million in research funding to pursue the idea further.

"One distasteful but non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior," the document stated.

The concept has since been widely ridiculed. Aaron Belkin, director of the Michael Palm Center at the University of California, said, "The idea that you could submit someone to some aerosol spray and change their sexual behavior is ludicrous."

The Pentagon did not explicitly deny the existence of the idea, instead stating, "The Department of Defense is committed to identifying, researching, and developing non-lethal weapons that will support our men and women in uniform."

Other strange proposals listed in the documents included ideas for bombs that could induce bad breath, cause flatulence, or attract swarms of insects.

"The idea that you could submit someone to some aerosol spray and change their sexual behavior is ludicrous."

Getty Stock Photo

In 2005, Captain Dan McSweeney of the Pentagon's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate addressed the unusual proposal, noting that the Department of Defense frequently receives a wide range of submissions.

"None of the systems described in that [1994] proposal have been developed," he told the BBC.He added, "It's important to point out that only those proposals which are deemed appropriate, based on stringent human effects, legal, and international treaty reviews, are considered for development or acquisition."

The concept of a 'gay bomb' raises significant ethical concerns and highlights the need for a reevaluation of military strategies. Dr. Susan David, a renowned psychologist and author, emphasizes the importance of emotional agility in navigating complex ethical dilemmas. She argues that emotional awareness and resilience are vital for making sound decisions, especially in military contexts where human lives are at stake. According to her, fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue and ethical reflection can help prevent misguided initiatives like this from gaining traction.

Dr. David advocates for creating channels where service members can voice concerns about moral implications of military projects, thereby cultivating a culture of integrity.

The proposal was obtained by the Sunshine Project

Getty Stock Photo

Interestingly, the scientists involved in the so-called "gay bomb" concept were recognized in 2007 with an IG Nobel Prize, a satirical award that honors quirky, unconventional, or downright absurd scientific achievements.

The IG Nobel Prizes are known for spotlighting research that "first makes you laugh, then makes you think." The awards aim to celebrate imaginative ideas that challenge traditional thinking, even when those ideas seem outrageous or impractical.

Founded in 1991 by Marc Abrahams, editor and co-founder of the Annals of Improbable Research, the IG Nobel Prizes were originally intended to highlight work that "cannot, or should not, be reproduced." Over time, they’ve become a global event, drawing attention to the strange and surprising corners of science and innovation.

The "gay bomb" proposal has since earned its place in the annals of bizarre military history, standing out as one of the most outlandish and controversial ideas ever to emerge from a weapons research program. While never developed or deployed, the concept continues to capture public imagination and serve as a cautionary example of how unconventional thinking in defense can sometimes veer into the surreal.

From a sociological perspective, the idea of manipulating sexual orientation to undermine enemy morale is deeply flawed. Dr. Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist and author, notes that sexual attraction is complex and influenced by numerous factors beyond mere chemical interventions. She suggests that understanding human relationships requires empathy and respect for individual identities. Dr. Schwartz explains that military strategies that rely on dehumanizing tactics often backfire, leading to greater resistance from the very individuals they aim to demoralize.

To improve military effectiveness, she recommends focusing on building alliances based on mutual respect rather than divisive tactics.

Healing Approaches & Techniques

The exploration of the 'gay bomb' reflects a troubling aspect of military innovation—prioritizing untested and ethically questionable methods over genuine understanding of human behavior. As experts like Dr. Susan David and Dr. Pepper Schwartz emphasize, emotional intelligence and respect for individual identities are crucial in developing effective strategies.

Moving forward, military and government organizations should prioritize ethical discussions and psychological insights to prevent such misguided initiatives. Encouraging dialogue can pave the way for more humane and effective approaches to conflict resolution, which ultimately benefits all parties involved.