About the book
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the directive of President Clinton’s 1993 military policy regarding gay and lesbian soldiers. This official silence continued a collective amnesia about the patriotic service and courageous sacrifices of homosexual troops. Ask and Tell recovers these lost voices, offering a rich chronicle of the history of gay and lesbian service in the U.S. military from World War II to the Iraq War.
Drawing on more than 50 interviews with gay and lesbian veterans, Steve Estes charts the evolution of policy toward homosexuals in the military over the past 65 years, uncovering the ways that silence about sexuality and military service has affected the identities of gay veterans. These veteran voices — harrowing, heroic, and on the record — reveal the extraordinary stories of ordinary Americans, men and women who simply did their duty and served their country in the face of homophobia, prejudice, and enemy fire. Far from undermining national security, unit cohesion, or troop morale, Estes demonstrates, these veterans strengthened the U.S. military in times of war and peace. He also examines challenges to the ban on homosexual service, placing them in the context of the wider movement for gay rights and gay liberation. Ask and Tell is an important compilation of unheard voices, offering Americans a new understanding of the value of all the men and women who serve and protect them.
Editions of Ask and Tell
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807831151
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807859551
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890881106
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893132472
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469604770
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807889855
Read an Excerpt
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the directive of President Clinton’s 1993 military policy regarding gay and lesbian soldiers. This official silence continued a collective amnesia about the patriotic service and courageous sacrifices of homosexual troops. Ask and Tell recovers these lost voices, offering a rich chronicle of the history of gay and lesbian service in the U.S. military from World War II to the Iraq War.
Drawing on more than 50 interviews with gay and lesbian veterans, Steve Estes charts the evolution of policy toward homosexuals in the military over the past 65 years, uncovering the ways that silence about sexuality and military service has affected the identities of gay veterans. These veteran voices — harrowing, heroic, and on the record — reveal the extraordinary stories of ordinary Americans, men and women who simply did their duty and served their country in the face of homophobia, prejudice, and enemy fire. Far from undermining national security, unit cohesion, or troop morale, Estes demonstrates, these veterans strengthened the U.S. military in times of war and peace. He also examines challenges to the ban on homosexual service, placing them in the context of the wider movement for gay rights and gay liberation. Ask and Tell is an important compilation of unheard voices, offering Americans a new understanding of the value of all the men and women who serve and protect them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ask and Tell about?
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the directive of President Clinton’s 1993 military policy regarding gay and lesbian soldiers. This official silence continued a collective amnesia about the patriotic service and courageous sacrifices of homosexual troops. Ask and Tell recovers these lost voices, offering a rich chronicle of the history of gay and lesbian service in the U.S. military from World War II to the Iraq War.
Drawing on more than 50 interviews with gay and lesbian veterans, Steve Estes charts the evolution of policy toward homosexuals in the military over the past 65 years, uncovering the ways that silence about sexuality and military service has affected the identities of gay veterans. These veteran voices — harrowing, heroic, and on the record — reveal the extraordinary stories of ordinary Americans, men and women who simply did their duty and served their country in the face of homophobia, prejudice, and enemy fire. Far from undermining national security, unit cohesion, or troop morale, Estes demonstrates, these veterans strengthened the U.S. military in times of war and peace. He also examines challenges to the ban on homosexual service, placing them in the context of the wider movement for gay rights and gay liberation. Ask and Tell is an important compilation of unheard voices, offering Americans a new understanding of the value of all the men and women who serve and protect them.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Ask and Tell?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > LGBTQIA+ Studies / topics
Where can I read a sample of Ask and Tell?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807831151
How long is Ask and Tell and how many pages does it have?
Ask and Tell has 296 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Ask and Tell?
Steve Estes
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Ask and Tell is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807831151) and paperback(ISBN 9780807859551) and ebook(ISBN 9798890881106) and ebook(ISBN 9798893132472) and ebook(ISBN 9781469604770) and ebook(ISBN 9780807889855)
Where can I buy Ask and Tell online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Ask and Tell from below
Where can I buy Ask and Tell?