The policy forced thousands of service members to stay in the closet and had detrimental effects on their well-being.
“My LGBTQ identity throughout all of my military experience was kind of, interesting, though, because I was always told that I was just one of the boys and, you know, they didn't really see me that way,” said Navy veteran Sky Lowe. “I was like, ‘Oh, that's interesting because there are other people who you clearly have something to say about.’ ”
In the early '90s, the Clinton administration passed the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. Rather than being immediately discharged, these service members could stay enlisted so long as they kept their sexuality a secret.The policy was a step away from the discrimination that existed before, but more than 13,000 service members still ended up being dishonorably discharged. They lost their VA benefits and job opportunities. For many, their mental health suffered as well.
It’s been three years since President Biden rescinded that ban, but Jacob Babauta, who works with Mesa College’s Pride Center, said the work is far from over.
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