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Clinton supports repeal of law
Asked during the presidential campaign whether homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military, Bill Clinton, says, "Yes. I support repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the United States armed forces." -
Clinton compromises
After the Pentagon and some members of Congress object to an outright lifting of the ban, President Clinton announces a compromise under which recruits would no longer be asked their sexual orientation. -
Clinton announces compromise
Clinton announces a compromise "don't ask, don't tell" policy that would allow homosexuals to serve as long as they do not reveal their orientation. The ban is written into law later in the year. -
Court upholds ruling
The first federal appeals court to rule on "don't ask, don't tell" upholds the measure. -
Clinton vows to fix policy
Clinton says "don't ask, don't tell" doesn't work and pledges to find a way to fix it. He said he meant to create a policy that would help gay service members remain on duty without being persecuted for their sexual orientation. -
DOD addresses harrassment
The Defense Department presses armed services leaders to re-emphasize to commanders that harassment of troops based on their sexual orientation will not be tolerated, after critics said an increasing number of gay and lesbian service members are being harassed. -
Report released on discharged troops
A private report released by the University of California says that discharging troops under the Pentagon's policy on gays cost $363.8 million over 10 years, almost double what the government concluded in 2005. -
Research: gays won't hurt operations
A research study conducted by four retired military officers concludes that the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to hurt combat effectiveness or undermine unit cohesion. -
More than 100 call for repeal
More than 100 retired generals and admirals call for repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." -
Obama hopes law is repealed
President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address, says he "will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are." -
Congress hears testimonies
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen voice support for allowing gays to serve openly in the military for the first time in history, in testimony before Congress. -
Rule: harder to discharge
Gates approves new rules that will make it harder to discharge gays from the military, calling the changes a matter of "common sense and common decency." The rules impose tougher requirements for evidence used against gays. -
House votes to overturn policy
The House votes 234-194 to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell." -
Judge rules policy unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips in Los Angeles rules that "don't ask, don't tell" is an unconstitutional violation of due process and free speech rights. The case involves Maj. Margaret Witt, a decorated Air Force flight nurse discharged for having a long-term relationship with a civilian woman. -
Lady GaGa supports repeal
Grammy Award-winning pop singer Lady Gaga throws her support behind a rally in Portland, Maine, organized by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. The event seeks to pressure Maine's two Republican senators to support a bill that would repeal the ban. -
Republicans block legislation
Senate Republicans block legislation that would repeal the law banning gays from serving openly in the military. The partisan vote was a defeat for Senate Democrats and gay rights advocates, who saw the bill as their last chance before November's elections to overturn the law. -
Another judge rules policy unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips rules the "don't ask, don't tell" policy unconstitutional. -
Gates: decision should be Congresses
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says abruptly ending the policy would have “enormous consequences for our troops,” and that the decision should be made by Congress. -
Administration: let ban continue for now
The Obama administration urges a federal judge to let the military continue the ban on gays serving openly in the military until the Pentagon completes a study. -
DOD: Applications accepted
The Defense Department says it is accepting openly gay recruits to comply with the federal court ruling. But recruiters have been told to warn applicants that the moratorium on "don't ask, don't tell" could be reversed at any point.
