What was “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and why did it face a lot of backlash from the LGBTQ+ community?
In: 920
* Back in the 90s there was a lot of arguing over allowing gay men to serve in the US military.
* There was a belief that if a soldier knew another soldier in their unit was gay it would be too distracting or otherwise interfere with performing the duties of soldier.
* So the “compromise” was this policy that prohibited soldiers from deliberately revealing they were gay and also prohibited soldiers from asking another solider if they were gay.
* This backlash from the LGBTQ+ community was for pretty obvious reasons.
* Soldiers had to pretend to not be gay in order to keep being a part of the military.
* Some soldiers, despite their best efforts, were outed and removed from service.
* In hindsight it was a misguided policy though some can argue that socially and culturally it was the only option the public would accept at the time.
* I offer no personal opinion about this policy as I’m just stating the facts as I knew them.
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