Don't ask, don't tell

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Don't ask, don't tell (DADT) was the common term for the policy restricting the United States military from efforts to discover or reveal closeted gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers or applicants, while barring those who are openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from military service, issued on December 21, 1993 and lasting until September 20, 2011. The restrictions are mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). Unless one of the exceptions from 10 U.S.C. § 654(b) applies, the policy prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because "it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." The act prohibited any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces.

There is no evidence that wounded troops care about the sexual orientation of the flight nurse or medical technician tending to their wounds. ~ Ronald B. Leighton

Quotes

I fully support the president's decision.
- Robert Gates (February 2, 2010), on decision of President Barack Obama to seek a repeal of the policy — reported in Shear, Michael D. (February 3, 2010). "McCain appears to shift on 'don't ask, don't tell'". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

Mr. President, this November marks 10 years since our Nation imposed the discriminatory law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on the lesbian, gay, and bisexual patriots of our Nation. During the past decade, almost 10,000 men and women have been fired from our Armed Forces simply because of their sexual orientation.
- Ted Kennedy (2003), on floor of United States Senate — Kennedy, Edward Moore (September 29, 2003). "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Congressional Record (United States Congress). Retrieved on 2010-11-02.

There is no evidence that wounded troops care about the sexual orientation of the flight nurse or medical technician tending to their wounds.
- Ronald B. Leighton (September 24, 2010), ruling in federal court case, Witt v. Department of the Air Force — reported in Johnson, Gene (September 24, 2010). "Federal judge orders lesbian reinstated to Air Force". MSNBC. Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

Reignited by the brutal slaying of a gay soldier at Ft. Campbell, Ky., the controversy over gays in the military threatens to become as combative an issue at the end of the Clinton administration as it was at the beginning. In recent weeks, the president, vice president and first lady have separately criticized the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and Defense Secretary William S. Cohen has authorized an investigation of its enforcement.
- Robert J. MacCoun & Steven Schlossman, "What's Germane Is a Soldier's Behavior", LA Times, (January 03, 2000).

The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it.
- John McCain (October 2006), speaking about Don't ask, don't tell, before students at Iowa State University — reported in Shear, Michael D. (February 3, 2010). "McCain appears to shift on 'don't ask, don't tell'". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy.
- John McCain (February 2, 2010), at a United States Senate hearing where Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen stated they supported the decision of President Barack Obama to seek a repeal of the policy — reported in Shear, Michael D. (February 3, 2010). "McCain appears to shift on 'don't ask, don't tell'". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. … I cannot escape being troubled in the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity. Theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.
- Michael Mullen (February 2, 2010) — reported in O'Keefe, Ed (February 2, 2010). "Live Blog: 'Don't ask, don't tell' Senate hearing". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

[We must] repeal the law that denies gay and lesbian Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do.
- Barack Obama (January 27, 2010), as part of his 2010 State of the Union Address — reported in Hornick, Ed (January 28, 2010). "Activists praise Obama's 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal pledge". CNN. Retrieved on 2010-10-28.

Furthermore, there is no adequate remedy at law to prevent the continued violation of service members' rights or to compensate them for violation of their rights.
- Virginia A. Phillips (September 9, 2010), ruling in federal court case, Log Cabin Republicans v. United States — reported in Watson, Julie (October 13, 2010). "Judge halts 'don't ask, don't tell' policy". Associated Press (Ohio.com). Retrieved on 2010-10-28.