Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Department of Defense. Defense Information Systems Agency. White House Communica · Public domain · source
Name	Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Introduced	1993
Repealed	2011
Enacted by	United States Congress
Signed by	Bill Clinton
Related legislation	Defense of Marriage Act, Military Justice Act
Country	United States

Contents

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a 1993 United States military policy concerning service by homosexual and bisexual personnel. It was enacted during the administration of Bill Clinton after debates involving lawmakers such as Joe Biden, Sam Nunn, Warren Rudman, and military leaders including Colin Powell and John Shalikashvili. The policy shaped personnel decisions across branches including the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard until its repeal during the administration of Barack Obama with involvement from figures like Hillary Clinton, Leon Panetta, and Eric Shinseki.

Background and Origins

Debate over service by homosexuals involved earlier events such as investigations by the House Armed Services Committee, testimony from advocates like Harry Britt and critics like Pat Buchanan, and precedents in policy discussions dating to the administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. Congressional dynamics featured committees chaired by Sam Nunn and influenced by hearings with participants from Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans, and Lambda Legal. Situations in the Gulf War and incidents involving personnel in Fort Hood and deployments under CENTCOM highlighted tensions that shaped the 1993 compromise signed by Bill Clinton.

The statute implemented administrative rules enforced by the Department of Defense and adjudicated through tribunals influenced by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and directives from secretaries such as Les Aspin and William Perry. Implementation involved service branch guidance issued by leaders like Les Aspin, Leon Panetta, and branch chiefs including Dennis Reimer and Thomas White. Personnel actions under the policy led to discharges processed by installations including Fort Bragg, Naval Station Norfolk, and Andrews Air Force Base, and involved military lawyers aligned with the Judge Advocate General's Corps and agencies like the Office of Personnel Management.

The policy affected individuals represented in litigation by organizations such as ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union, American Psychological Association, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Lambda Legal. Studies cited by analysts at institutions including Rand Corporation, Brookings Institution, Cato Institute, and Pew Research Center examined impacts on retention, recruitment, and unit cohesion. High-profile cases involving service members intersected with public figures and commentators like Randy Shilts, Anderson Cooper, Larry Kramer, and Dan Choi. Reports to Congress by secretaries such as William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld and testimonies before committees chaired by John Warner and Carl Levin explored readiness concerns during operations in theaters like Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001–present).

Litigation produced cases brought in jurisdictions including the United States District Court for the Central District of California, appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and decisions by the United States Supreme Court that influenced subsequent action. Plaintiffs and litigators involved parties such as Margaret Cho (advocate), Alec Baldwin (supporter), and organizations including GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Legislative efforts to modify or repeal the policy passed through committees led by senators like Joe Lieberman, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Joseph Biden; measures referenced statutes like the National Defense Authorization Act and debates in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives influenced timing and scope of change.

The repeal process culminated in the passage of legislation and certification processes involving Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Leon Panetta, Eric Shinseki, and military leaders including Martin Dempsey. Implementation after repeal required directives from the Department of Defense, policy reviews by the Pentagon, and personnel adjustments across installations such as Fort Bragg, Fort Meade, Naval Station San Diego, and Marine Corps Base Quantico. Post-repeal analysis by scholars at Rand Corporation, commentators in outlets involving The New York Times, The Washington Post, and academic work at Harvard University and Yale University assessed effects on retention, recruitment, and unit cohesion, while advocacy groups including Human Rights Campaign and Log Cabin Republicans evaluated veterans' benefits and administrative corrections for discharged service members. International comparisons referenced policies in United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and Australia.

Category:United States military policy