Ask Not

ASK NOT reveals the stories behind “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy which forced LGBT American servicemembers to deny their sexuality, profiling closeted military personnel and courageous activists fighting for their right to serve.
by Johnny Symons200854 mins
Ask Not
Award-winning PBS documentary Ask Not is a compelling exploration of the history and effects of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The film exposes the tangled political battles that led to the discriminatory law, and profiles courageous activists who fought for repeal.
Synopsis
Discharged soldier Alex Nicholson was the only named plaintiff in the federal lawsuit that sparked national attention and pushed the U.S. government toward a speedy decision to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell.' Ask Not traces Alex's story from his South Carolina beginnings to the pioneering national activism that made him a key figure in this fight. The film also includes the gripping video diaries of a gay soldier stationed in Iraq and informative interviews with policy experts, which compellingly illustrate both the political and historical context of the policy as well as the psychological tolls on gay Americans who served in combat under a veil of secrecy.
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