Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to To the Point

To the Point

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Back on the Front Burner

It's estimated that 65,000 gays and lesbians serve in the military, but that's legal only as long as their sexual orientation is secret. Since " Don't Ask, Don't Tell " was enacted in the early 1990's, some 13,000 have been discharged after being outed.

  • rss
  • Share
By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

It's estimated that 65,000 gays and lesbians serve in the military, but that's legal only as long as their sexual orientation is secret. Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was enacted in the early 1990's, some 13,000 have been discharged after being outed. The Obama White House is in no hurry to make good on the campaign promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. Now a gay national guardsman with a "mission-critical specialty" has challenged "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by coming out on a cable news program. A leading opponent of homosexual rights has organized 1100 generals and admirals on the other side of the issue, and political pressure is building. We talk with both of them and hear about conflicting court decisions and possible options for the White House and Congress.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Dan Choi

    First Lieutenant, New York's Army National Guard

  • KCRW placeholder

    Elaine Donnelly

    Center for Military Readiness

  • KCRW placeholder

    Bob Egelko

    San Francisco Chronicle

    NewsNationalPolitics
Back to To the Point