Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a policy enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on December 21, 1993, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994. The policy prohibited LGBT individuals from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces, while also prohibiting the United States Department of Defense from inquiring about a service member's sexual orientation. This policy was the result of a compromise between President Clinton and Congressional Republicans, including Senator Sam Nunn and Senator John McCain, who opposed the president's efforts to allow LGBT individuals to serve openly. The policy was also influenced by the views of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell and other high-ranking military officials, including General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Introduction

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was a significant development in the history of LGBT rights in the United States, marking a shift away from the United States Department of Defense's previous policy of explicitly banning LGBT individuals from serving in the military. The policy was influenced by the experiences of LGBT service members, including Leonard Matlovich, who was discharged from the United States Air Force in 1975 after coming out as gay. The policy was also shaped by the views of LGBT rights activists, including Larry Kramer and ACT UP, who advocated for an end to the ban on LGBT service members. Additionally, the policy was influenced by the experiences of LGBT individuals who served in the military during World War II, including Audre Lorde and Bayard Rustin, who were part of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Naval Reserve, respectively.

History

The history of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is closely tied to the broader history of LGBT rights in the United States, including the Stonewall riots and the LGBT rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The policy was also influenced by the experiences of LGBT service members during the Vietnam War, including Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, who were part of the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries, respectively. The policy was enacted in response to the efforts of President Clinton to allow LGBT individuals to serve openly in the military, which was opposed by Congressional Republicans, including Senator Jesse Helms and Senator Strom Thurmond. The policy was also influenced by the views of military leaders, including General Carl Mundy Jr. and Admiral Jeremy Boorda, who opposed the idea of allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly.

Policy and Enforcement

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was enforced by the United States Department of Defense, which was responsible for implementing the policy and investigating allegations of LGBT service members. The policy was also enforced by the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, which were responsible for applying the policy to their respective branches. The policy was influenced by the views of military leaders, including General Peter Pace and General James Amos, who opposed the idea of allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly. The policy was also shaped by the experiences of LGBT service members, including Dan Choi and Victor Fehrenbach, who were discharged from the United States Army and United States Air Force, respectively, under the policy. Additionally, the policy was influenced by the views of LGBT rights activists, including Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers United, who advocated for an end to the policy.

Repeal Efforts

Efforts to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy began shortly after its enactment, with LGBT rights activists, including National Center for Lesbian Rights and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, advocating for an end to the policy. The repeal efforts were also supported by Democratic Party leaders, including Senator Ted Kennedy and Representative Barney Frank, who introduced legislation to repeal the policy. The repeal efforts were influenced by the views of military leaders, including Admiral Mike Mullen and General Martin Dempsey, who supported the idea of allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly. The policy was finally repealed on September 20, 2011, with the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama. The repeal was also influenced by the experiences of LGBT service members, including Eric Alva and Jenny Kopfstein, who were part of the Human Rights Campaign and the Servicemembers United, respectively.

Legacy and Impact

The legacy of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is complex and multifaceted, with both positive and negative impacts on LGBT rights in the United States. The policy marked a significant shift away from the United States Department of Defense's previous policy of explicitly banning LGBT individuals from serving in the military, and paved the way for the eventual repeal of the policy. The policy also had a significant impact on the lives of LGBT service members, including Dan Choi and Victor Fehrenbach, who were discharged from the United States Army and United States Air Force, respectively, under the policy. The policy was also influenced by the views of LGBT rights activists, including Harvey Milk and Larry Kramer, who advocated for an end to the policy. Additionally, the policy was influenced by the experiences of LGBT individuals who served in the military during World War I, including Margarethe Cammermeyer and Grethe Cammermeyer, who were part of the Women's Army Corps and the United States Army Nurse Corps, respectively. The policy's legacy continues to be felt today, with ongoing efforts to promote LGBT rights in the United States and to support LGBT service members, including those who were affected by the policy. Category:LGBT rights in the United States