The policy forced thousands of service members to stay in the closet and had detrimental effects on their well-being.
This Veterans Day, 8News is amplifying the voices of veterans from all walks of life.
The United States military has upgraded the records of service members discharged under an old anti-LGBTQ policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in an effort to make amends.
"In order to be true to what we tried to do by getting rid of 'don't ask, don't tell,' it's not just about the future.
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Gays and lesbians dismissed from the military during the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era are part of a legacy that started well before 1994.
In 1993, former President Bill Clinton modified the military’s policy to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which allowed LGBTQ troops to serve in the armed forces if they didn’t disclose their .