“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Eleven Years Later | Webinar being hosted on 20 September 2022.

On September 20, 2011, the government of the United States officially repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” legislation that had previously enabled LGBTQIA+ people to serve in the U.S. military only if they kept their sexual orientation a secret. On the day of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DNDT) repeal, President Barack Obama stated:

As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love.

 

U.S. Secretary of Defense at the time, Leon Panetta, said:

 

I am committed to removing all of the barriers that would prevent Americans from serving their country and from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their capabilities and talents allow.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Background

With his 1992 presidential victory, President Bill Clinton declared his intention to lift the United States military’s decades-long ban on openly LGBTQIA+ service members. Top military officials and influential members of Congress voiced their opposition to the plan.

Clinton was able to secure support for legislation allowing openly LGBTQIA+ service personnel to remain in the military by striking a middle ground with opponents. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the name given to the policy.

It was widely condemned by civil rights organizations, but its repeal was celebrated as a victory in the ongoing struggle to end discrimination against LGBTQIA+ military personnel.

Veterans discharged due to DNDT were allowed to re-enlist after the repeal on September 20, 2011.

But, eleven years later, what has changed?

Richard Brethor-Bell, V.P. Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion at InterPride, will host a discussion with three veterans who served while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still enacted.

The webinar is part of InterPride’s Racism & Oppression Awareness Program (ROAP).