Explores the history of the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the federal law restricting the military service of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. This title traces the policy from its origins in the early 1990s through its evolution and implementation into law in the United States military.

Individual volumes shed light on key contemporary military, strategic, and security issues of current interest. Each book in the series is truly a "library in a book," including both a narrative summary treatment of the issue and reference features such as a chronology, biographies, and relevant primary sources. The series provides a quick, in-depth examination and current perspectives on controversial and in-the-news military, strategic, and security issues - both at home and around the world. It is sure to stimulate critical thinking, while providing ready-reference answers, primary documents, and "next stops" for student research and the interested general reader.Embser-Hebert explores the history of the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the federal law restricting the military service of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. In this narrative overview, she traces the policy from its origins in the early 1990s through its evolution and implementation into law in the United States military before evaluating the impact of post-9/11 events on the military, the policy, and the ongoing debate surrounding the existence of the policy itself as lawmakers consider its repeal.