The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy prohibits openly non-heterosexual people from serving in the US military. Homosexuals can serve if they remain silent about their orientation. Nearly 13,000 people have been discharged under this rule. Supporters argue that open homosexuals could negatively impact morale, while opponents believe it constitutes discrimination. A review of the policy began in Congress in 2008.
The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy is an American law that effectively prohibits people who are openly non-heterosexual from serving in the military. Although the law specifically mentions homosexuals, bisexuals, asexuals and people of other sexual orientations are often involved in it, as are people with unconventional lifestyles, such as openly polyamorous or “kinky” people. The policy has attracted a large amount of public comment from a variety of communities, ranging from conservatives who want to ban homosexuals from serving altogether to gays and lesbians who would like to enlist and remain open about their sexual identity.
Under the terms of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, homosexuals can serve in the military as long as they remain silent about their sexual orientation, and questions about sexual orientation are prohibited. Orientation disclosures, references to same-sex partners, public support for gay and lesbian causes, and other related behaviors may be grounds for discharge from the military. In the 15 years since the law passed in 1993, nearly 13,000 Americans have been discharged from the military due to violations of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell rule.
The law was designed as a compromise between conservatives and President Bill Clinton, who pledged to support gays and lesbians who wanted to serve. Until non-heterosexuals in the military disclose their sexual orientations, either directly or through references, they cannot be investigated and discharged. This was seen as a significant improvement over previous military policies, which allowed for investigations of suspected homosexuals.
Proponents of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy argue that open homosexuals could negatively impact morale, unit cohesion, and discipline. People who oppose the policy believe it constitutes discrimination and that being forced to remain silent about one’s sexual orientation is tantamount to oppression. Non-heterosexuals who have left the military have cited Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as a source of extreme stress and misery. Many proponents point out that women were barred from military service as late as 1948 under many of the same arguments, and that these arguments proved specious once women were allowed to join the military.
In 2008, a serious review of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell began in Congress, sparked by growing public interest in the policy, comments by activists, and statements by presidential election candidates. Some members of Congress felt that the policy was outdated and that the ban on serving while openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise should be lifted.
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