Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a United States government policy that barred openly gay soldiers from serving in the armed forces. The policy was in effect from 1993 to 2011. It allowed gay and lesbian military members to serve provided they kept their sexual orientation private. It also forbade military superiors from investigating a subordinate’s sexual orientation if the subordinate had kept his or her orientation private.
Background.
Gay men and women have long served in militaries around the world. In many cases, however, soldiers have been discharged for participating in homosexual acts. Most gay soldiers have kept their sexual orientation private.
The U.S. Congress, in its revisions to the Articles of War in 1916 and 1920, issued the military’s first official restrictions on homosexual conduct. The restrictions were largely unenforced, however, until World War II (1939-1945). For much of the late 1900’s, military policy regarded homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder that required treatment. In 1981, the U.S. Department of Defense directed officials to deny enlistment to suspected gay recruits and to discharge gay soldiers from military service.
The policy.
While campaigning for president in 1992, Bill Clinton announced an interest in overturning the ban on gay people in the armed forces. After taking office in 1993, he took steps to lift the ban. Clinton’s actions, however, caused considerable controversy. Opponents such as Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, argued against lifting the ban. They claimed that the presence of gay soldiers would have a negative effect on soldiers’ morale and discipline. They also argued it would threaten unit cohesion—that is, the ability of military units to work together. In late January, Clinton ordered that the practice of asking recruits about their sexual preference be suspended while the government developed a permanent policy.
Clinton eventually agreed to a moderate change to the policy. On July 19, he announced the government’s new policy. Recruits would no longer be asked about their sexual preference. Gay people would be allowed to serve in the military if they kept their sexual orientation private. Gay people could still be removed from service for overtly homosexual behavior. The new policy became known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” New Department of Defense regulations reflecting the policy went into effect in February 1994.
Ban lifted.
In December 2010, Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed, a law ending the ban on openly gay soldiers in the armed forces. During the 18 years that the policy was in effect, more than 13,000 men and women had been discharged because of their sexual orientation.
Many observers considered the end of the policy a major civil rights achievement. A number of conservative lawmakers, however, opposed the change. They claimed it might disrupt ongoing combat operations. During 2011, members of the armed forces underwent training to prepare for the implementation of the new policy. The law went into effect on Sept. 20, 2011.
