Legal Definitions - Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a policy that governed how the U.S. military dealt with gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members. Before this policy, homosexuals were banned from serving in the military. In 1993, the Clinton administration signed into law a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy whereby individuals were not required to disclose their sexuality and military officials would not investigate. However, if a service member's orientation was made public, they would still be subject to discharge under “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”

For example, if a gay service member was caught engaging in homosexual acts or stated that they were gay, they could be separated from other members and discharged from the military.

In 2011, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was formally repealed by the Obama administration. Under the current policy, individuals can serve openly in the U.S. military and are not barred from promotions or face discharge on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Overall, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was a controversial policy that discriminated against LGBTQ+ individuals in the military. Its repeal was a significant step towards equality and inclusion in the armed forces.