Don't Ask Dont Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) was the U.S. military's official policy on service by gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Issued under President Bill Clinton in December 1993 and in effect from February 1994 until September 2011, it was a compromise: the military would not ask about a member's sexual orientation, and members could serve only if they did not disclose it or engage in same-sex conduct. In practice, harassment and investigations continued, and roughly 13,000 service members were discharged under the policy. After years of advocacy and legal challenges, Congress passed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act in December 2010, signed by President Barack Obama. The repeal took full effect on September 20, 2011, allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve openly.