
Don't ask, don't tell
The former official United States policy on military service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians. Manchin admits he was wrong to initially vote against its repeal.
First Mentioned
10/24/2025, 6:16:54 AM
Last Updated
10/24/2025, 6:21:51 AM
Research Retrieved
10/24/2025, 6:21:51 AM
Summary
Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) was the official United States policy governing the military service of homosexual individuals, in effect from February 28, 1994, to September 20, 2011. Instituted during President Bill Clinton's administration and mandated by Public Law 103–160, the policy prohibited the U.S. military from discriminating against or harassing closeted gay, lesbian, or bisexual service members, while simultaneously barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals from serving. It stipulated that individuals demonstrating a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts were prohibited from service, citing risks to military morale and unit cohesion. Service members who disclosed their sexual orientation or engaged in homosexual conduct were subject to discharge. The policy's "don't ask" component meant superiors were not to investigate a service member's orientation without credible evidence of prohibited behaviors, and it later expanded to "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass" due to concerns over unauthorized investigations. Following numerous legal challenges, legislation to repeal DADT was enacted in December 2010, with its full repeal contingent on certification that it would not harm military readiness. This certification was sent to Congress on July 22, 2011, leading to the policy's official end on September 20, 2011. Although DADT was repealed, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) initially prevented federal recognition of same-sex marriages for military benefits, a situation later rectified by the Supreme Court's *United States v. Windsor* decision in 2013 and DOMA's eventual repeal in December 2022.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Directive
Department of Defense Directive 1304.26
Legal Basis
Public Law 103–160 (Title 10 of the United States Code §654)
Policy Type
Official United States policy on military service
Target Group
Homosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian individuals in the military
Instituted By
President Bill Clinton's administration
Official Name
Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)
Stated Rationale
Risks to military morale, good order, discipline, and unit cohesion.
Effective End Date
2011-09-20
Effective Start Date
1994-02-28
Expanded Policy Name
Don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass
Core Provision (Don't Ask)
Superiors not to investigate a service member's orientation without witnessing disallowed behaviors.
Core Provision (Don't Tell)
Barred openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals from serving; service members disclosing orientation or engaging in homosexual conduct subject to discharge.
Timeline
- Public Law 103–160 (Title 10 of the United States Code §654) was signed, mandating the policy. (Source: wikipedia)
1993-11-30
- Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 was issued, outlining the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. (Source: wikipedia)
1993-12-21
- The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy officially went into effect. (Source: summary)
1994-02-28
- Several legal challenges to DADT were filed. (Source: wikipedia)
2000s
- The Pentagon released the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) report, outlining a path to repeal. (Source: web_search_results)
2010-11-30
- Legislation to repeal DADT was enacted, specifying that the policy would remain in place until certification of no harm to military readiness. (Source: wikipedia)
2010-12
- A federal appeals court ruling barred further enforcement of the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members. (Source: wikipedia)
2011-07-06
- President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen sent the certification of repeal to Congress. (Source: summary)
2011-07-22
- The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy officially ended. (Source: summary)
2011-09-20
- The Supreme Court decision in *United States v. Windsor* made efforts to allow some benefits not restricted by DOMA unnecessary. (Source: summary)
2013
- The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was officially repealed by the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. (Source: wikipedia)
2022-12-13
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaDon't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of homosexual people. Instituted during the Presidency of Bill Clinton, the policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. This relaxation of legal restrictions on service by gays and lesbians in the armed forces was mandated by Public Law 103–160 (Title 10 of the United States Code §654), which was signed November 30, 1993. The policy prohibited people who "demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because their presence "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 non-heterosexual person from disclosing their sexual orientation or from speaking about any same-sex relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. The act specified that service members who disclose that they are homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct should be separated (discharged) except when a service member's conduct was "for the purpose of avoiding or terminating military service" or when it "would not be in the best interest of the armed forces". Since DADT ended in 2011, persons who are openly homosexual and bisexual have been able to serve. The "don't ask" section of the DADT policy specified that superiors should not initiate an investigation of a service member's orientation without witnessing disallowed behaviors. However, evidence of homosexual behavior deemed credible could be used to initiate an investigation. Unauthorized investigations and harassment of suspected servicemen and women led to an expansion of the policy to "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass". Beginning in the early 2000s, several legal challenges to DADT were filed, and legislation to repeal DADT was enacted in December 2010, specifying that the policy would remain in place until the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certified that repeal would not harm military readiness, followed by a 60-day waiting period. A July 6, 2011, ruling from a federal appeals court barred further enforcement of the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen sent that certification to Congress on July 22, 2011, which set the end of DADT to September 20, 2011. Even with DADT repealed, the legal definition of marriage as being one man and one woman under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) meant that, although same-sex partners could get married, their marriage was not recognized by the federal government. This barred partners from access to the same benefits afforded to heterosexual couples such as base access, health care, and United States military pay, including family separation allowance and Basic Allowance for Housing with dependents. The Department of Defense attempted to allow some of the benefits that were not restricted by DOMA, but the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor (2013) made these efforts unnecessary. On December 13, 2022, DOMA was officially repealed by the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
Web Search Results
- Don't ask, don't tell - Wikipedia
"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of homosexual people. Instituted during the Clinton administration, the policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or [...] The full name of the policy at the time was "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue". The "Don't Ask" provision mandated that military or appointed officials not ask about or require members to reveal their sexual orientation. The "Don't Tell" stated that a member may be discharged for claiming to be a homosexual or bisexual or making a statement indicating a tendency towards or intent to engage in homosexual activities. The "Don't Pursue" established what was minimally required for an [...] On November 30, 2010, the Joint Chiefs of Staff released the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) report authored by Jeh C. Johnson, General Counsel of the Department of Defense, and Army General Carter F. Ham. It outlined a path to the implementation of repeal of DADT. The report indicated that there was a low risk of service disruptions due to repealing the ban, provided time was provided for proper implementation and training. It included the results of a survey
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) - Britannica
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), byname for the former official U.S. policy (1993–2011) regarding the service of homosexuals in the military. The term was coined after Pres. Bill Clinton in 1993 signed a law (consisting of statute, regulations, and policy memoranda) directing that military personnel “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue, and don’t harass.” When it went into effect on October 1, 1993, the policy theoretically lifted a ban on homosexual service that had been instituted during World [...] In May 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives and a U.S. Senate panel voted to allow the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” pending completion of the Pentagon study and certification by the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that lifting the ban would not adversely affect military readiness. While the Pentagon review was being carried out, the policy was subject to a lawsuit claiming that it violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of service [...] On November 30, 2010, the Pentagon released its report of its study on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which found that repealing the policy would pose little risk to military effectiveness. Some 70 percent of service members surveyed believed that ending the policy would have mixed, positive, or no impact. However, some 40–60 percent of those in the Marine Corps expressed negative views or concerns about overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” After a continued filibuster of the National Defense
- Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Human Rights Campaign
In 1994, the U.S. adopted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as the official federal policy on military service by lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. The rule was discrimination in its purest form and prevented service members from being openly queer without threat of being discharged. DADT was based on the false assumption that the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals in any branch of the military would undermine the ability of people to carry out their duties. Over the course of the policy’s life, [...] The discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gay and lesbian service members is officially in the dustbin of history. For 17 years, the law prohibited qualified gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the armed forces and sent a message that discrimination was acceptable. ## The Introduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” [...] Skip to Content ## Cookies in use The Human Rights Campaign uses cookies to improve your site experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. To learn more, please read our Privacy Policy. More Information Human Rights Campaign Shop Donate Search # Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
- Don't Ask Don't Tell Resources | U.S. Department of War - War.gov
or DD Form 149 (BCM/NR). Applicants are encouraged to clearly write or check the "DADT" or "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on their application form to identify their case as potentially eligible for consideration under the Stanley Memorandum policy guidance. [...] The Stanley Memorandum instructs the Military Department Review Boards to normally grant requests to change a narrative reason for discharge, a characterization of discharge, and re-entry codes for former service members under the following conditions: 1. The original discharge was based solely on DADT or a similar policy in place prior to the enactment of DADT; 2. There are no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct. [...] The Stanley Memorandum instructs the Military Department Review Boards to normally grant requests to change a narrative reason for discharge, a characterization of discharge, and re-entry codes for former service members under the following conditions: 1. The original discharge was based solely on DADT or a similar policy in place prior to the enactment of DADT; 2. There are no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct.
- What was the army's reason behind dont ask dont tell? - Reddit
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Wikidata
View on WikidataInstance Of
DBPedia
View on DBPedia"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of non-heterosexual people, instituted during the Clinton administration. The policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December 21, 1993, and was in effect from February 28, 1994, until September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. This relaxation of legal restrictions on service by gays and lesbians in the armed forces was mandated by Public Law 103–160 (Title 10 of the United States Code §654), which was signed November 30, 1993. The policy prohibited people who "demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because their presence "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 non-heterosexual person from disclosing their sexual orientation or from speaking about any same-sex relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. The act specified that service members who disclose that they are homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct should be separated (discharged) except when a service member's conduct was "for the purpose of avoiding or terminating military service" or when it "would not be in the best interest of the armed forces". Since DADT ended in 2011, persons who are openly homosexual and bisexual have been able to serve. The "don't ask" section of the DADT policy specified that superiors should not initiate an investigation of a service member's orientation without witnessing disallowed behaviors. However, evidence of homosexual behavior deemed credible could be used to initiate an investigation. Unauthorized investigations and harassment of suspected servicemen and women led to an expansion of the policy to "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass". Beginning in the early 2000s, several legal challenges to DADT were filed, and legislation to repeal DADT was enacted in December 2010, specifying that the policy would remain in place until the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certified that repeal would not harm military readiness, followed by a 60-day waiting period. A July 6, 2011, ruling from a federal appeals court barred further enforcement of the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen sent that certification to Congress on July 22, 2011, which set the end of DADT to September 20, 2011. Although DADT was officially repealed, the legal definition of marriage as being one man and one woman under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) meant that, although same-sex partners could get married, their marriage was not recognized by the federal government. This barred partners from access to the same benefits afforded to heterosexual couples such as base access, health care, and United States military pay, including family separation allowance and Basic Allowance for Housing with dependents. The Department of Defense attempted to open some of the benefits that were not restricted by DOMA, but the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor (2013) made these efforts unnecessary.
