“don’t ask, don’t tell”
Last updatedDefinition
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), instituted by the Clinton administration in 1993, was the official US policy that said members of the US military would not be asked about their sexual orientation and required gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to keep their identity private. It protected LGBTQ+ service members from discrimination, but only if they never revealed their sexuality to anyone. If they did, they could be discharged. At the time, this policy came as a compromise to lift the all-out ban on LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the military.
The Obama administration officially ended the policy on September 20, 2011, allowing LGBTQ+ people to serve openly in the US military. If using the term, including some explanation of the policy and its defunct status provides essential context.
Additional resources
- Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (Human Rights Campaign)
- How ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Continues to Impact the Military (Time)
Summary
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), instituted by the Clinton administration in 1993, was the official US policy that said members of the US military would not be asked about their sexual orientation and required gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to keep their identity private. It protected LGBTQ+ service members from discrimination, but only if they never revealed their sexuality to anyone. The policy was repealed in 2011. If using the term, including some explanation of the policy and its defunct status provides essential context.