It is estimated that more than 14,000 gay and lesbian individuals were subject to less-than-honorable discharges as a result of this policy. For LGBTQ+ individuals serving during this time, DADT placed an immense toll on both mental and physical health-from the need to hide their true selves and the constant fear of discovery to the inability to disclose their sexual orientation to military health care providers. Until 2011, the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, established in 1994, banned gay, lesbian, and bisexual (LGB) individuals from openly serving in the military.
History and legacy of discriminatory policies
