ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - On December 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. This allowed LGBTQ members of the military to serve openly.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discouraged countless Americans from joining the military. LGBTQ people who joined despite the policy had to hide a part of themselves from their peers.

President Obama said that repealing the law “upheld the fundamental American values of fairness and equality.”

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era officially ended in September of 2011 after 17 years of enforcement.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.