The Palm Center was a
think tank
A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
founded in 1998 at the
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...
, that produced scholarship designed to improve the quality of public dialogue about critical and controversial
public policy
Public policy is an institutionalized proposal or a Group decision-making, decided set of elements like laws, regulations, guidelines, and actions to Problem solving, solve or address relevant and problematic social issues, guided by a conceptio ...
issues. It commissioned and disseminated research in the areas of gender, sexuality, and the military that had been published in leading social scientific journals and cited in the press. The Palm Center was a resource for university-affiliated as well as independent scholars, students, journalists, opinion leaders, and members of the public.
At its founding in 1998, it was known as the Center for the Study of
Sexual Minorities
Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) comprise individuals whose sexual identity, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, or gender identity differ from the majority of the surrounding society. Sexual minorities include lesbians, gay men, bisexual peo ...
in the Military. It was renamed in 2006 in recognition of a one million dollar endowment gift from the Michael D. Palm Foundation.
The Palm Center's research has been cited on the floor of Congress and covered by newspapers and radio and television stations throughout the world. Palm scholars have delivered briefings and lectures at the
British Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence (MOD or MoD) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for implementing the defence policy set by the government and serves as the headquarters of the British Armed Forces.
...
, the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
at West Point, the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...
, the
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academies, United States service academy in Air Force Academy, Colorado, Air Force Academy Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado Springs. I ...
, the
Army War College and the
National Defense University National Defence (or Defense) University (or College) may refer to:
:''Alphabetical by country'' University
* Marshal Fahim National Defense University, Afghanistan
* National Defense University (Azerbaijan)
* People's Liberation Army National Defe ...
.
The director of the Palm Center was
Aaron Belkin.
[''New York Times'']
Scott James, "Celebration of Gay Pride Masks Community in Transition," June 25, 2011
accessed February 1, 2012 The Center ceased operations in 2022.
Notes
External links
Elaine Donnelly and Aaron Belkin Debate DADT at Maxwell Air Force Base, summer 2010official website
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Research institutes established in 1998
Social science research institutes
Don't ask, don't tell
University of California, Santa Barbara