Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Stories about a policy that allowed LGBTQ Americans to serve closeted in the U.S. military

President Bill Clinton instituted the policy known as “don't ask, don't tell” (DADT) in 1994 to allow closested LGBTQ Americans to serve in the U.S. military, but barring open LGBTQ Americans from service. The policy led to the discharge of many service members who were outed as LGBTQ during their service. Congress successfully repealed DADT at the end of 2010 with President Barack Obama's support, and the policy expired in September 2011. Conservative media attempted to prevent the repeal of DADT by pushing bigoted falsehoods about LBGTQ Americans and service members.