Editing Don't ask, don't tell (section)

===Day of repeal and aftermath===
[[File:DADT28.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[US Navy]] LT [[Gary C. Ross]] marries Dan Swezy, becoming the first active member of the U.S. military to legally marry a same-sex partner.]]

On the eve of repeal, US Air Force 1st Lt. [[JD Smith (pseudonym)|Josh Seefried]], one of the founders of [[OutServe]], an organization of LGBT troops, revealed his identity after two years of hiding behind a pseudonym.<ref>''Daily Beast'': [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/19/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-ends-a-gay-soldier-comes-out.html Josh Seefried, "I am a Gay Airman"], September 19, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2012.</ref> Senior Airman [[Randy Phillips (airman)|Randy Phillips]], after conducting a social media campaign seeking encouragement coming out and already out to his military co-workers, came out to his father on the evening of September 19. His video of their conversation made him, in one journalist's estimation, "the poster boy for the DADT repeal".<ref name="huffmom">The Huffington Post: [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/airman-comes-out-to-mother_n_988047.html "Randy Phillips, Gay Airman, Comes Out To Mom On YouTube"], September 29, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.</ref> The moment the repeal took effect at midnight on September 19, US Navy Lt. [[Gary C. Ross]] married his same-sex partner of eleven and a half years, Dan Swezy, making them the first same-sex military couple to legally marry in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mak|first=Tim|title=Post-'don't ask', gay Navy Lt. marries|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63909.html|access-date=October 3, 2011 |newspaper=Politico |date=September 20, 2011}}</ref> Retired Rear Adm. [[Alan M. Steinman]] became the highest-ranking person to come out immediately following the end of DADT.<ref>Thomas Francis, [https://web.archive.org/web/20200814112706/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44607673 "On base, 'don't ask, don't tell' demise is cause for celebration"], NBC News: September 21, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.</ref> HBO produced a [[World of Wonder (production company)|World of Wonder]] documentary, ''The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell'', and premiered it on September 20. ''Variety'' called it "an unapologetic piece of liberal advocacy" and "a testament to what formidable opponents ignorance and prejudice can be".<ref>Brian Lowry, [https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117946143 "The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell"], ''Variety'', September 18, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2012. See also Internet Movie Database: [[IMDbTitle:2066128|"The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (2011)"]]. A private showing in San Francisco for OutServe preceded the public premiere. Retrieved January 29, 2012.</ref> Discharge proceedings on the grounds of homosexuality, some begun years earlier, came to an end.<ref>Dwyer, Devin (September 20, 2011). [https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-spares-decorated-veteran-air-force-aviator/ "'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Repeal Spares Decorated Air Force Aviator"], ABC News: Retrieved January 31, 2012</ref>

[[File:USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) First Kiss 111221-N-JP983-008.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of the {{USS|Oak Hill|LSD-51}} shares the traditional "first kiss" with her fiancée, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, December 23, 2011.]]

In the weeks that followed, a series of firsts attracted press attention to the impact of the repeal. The Marine Corps were the first branch of the armed services to recruit from the LGBTQ community.<ref name="Marine Corps first to recruit from the LGBTQ community">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/us/marine-recruiters-visit-gay-center-in-oklahoma.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/us/marine-recruiters-visit-gay-center-in-oklahoma.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited |title=Marines Hit the Ground Running in Seeking Recruits at Gay Center |last= Bumiller |first= Elisabeth |date=September 20, 2011 |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 30, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Reservist Jeremy Johnson became the first person discharged under DADT to re-enlist.<ref>Jennifer Rizzo, (September 24, 2011). [https://archive.today/20120708001018/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-24/us/us_dadt-sailor-re-enlists_1_repeal-bill-sailor-openly-gay-man "Discharged gay sailor re-enlists in Navy Reserves"], CNN: Retrieved January 27, 2012</ref> [[Jase Daniels]] became the first to return to active duty, re-joining the Navy as a third class petty officer.<ref>Fellman, Sam (December 12, 2011). [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/navy-twice-discharged-sailor-daniels-reinstated-121211/ "Twice-discharged gay sailor reinstated"], ''Navy Times''. Retrieved January 29, 2012.</ref> On December 2, Air Force intelligence officer Ginger Wallace became the first open LGBT service member to have a same-sex partner participate in the "pinning-on" ceremony that marked her promotion to colonel.<ref>Chris Johnson, (December 1, 2011). [http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/12/01/pinning-on-ceremony-big-deal-for-lesbian-couple-2/ "'Pinning-on' ceremony 'big deal' for lesbian couple"], ''Washington Blade'': Retrieved January 28, 2012; Parrish, Karen (January 25, 2012). [https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/66924/ "Colonel 'Proud, Humbled' to Represent Gay, Lesbian Troops"], Department of Defense: Retrieved January 27, 2012</ref> On December 23, after 80 days at sea, US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta won the right to the traditional "first kiss" upon returning to port and shared it with her same-sex partner.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2011-12-21 |title=Two women share historic kiss at US Navy ship's return |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/21/two-women-kiss-navy-pier |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> On January 20, 2012, U.S. service members deployed to [[Bagram|Bagram, Afghanistan]], produced a video in support of the [[It Gets Better Project]], which aims to support LGBT at-risk youth.<ref>Murray, Rheana (January 23, 2012). [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lgbt-service-members-afghanistan-post-better-video-encourage-youth-bullied-sexuality-article-1.1010451 "LGBT servicemembers in Afghanistan post 'It Gets Better' video to encourage youth bullied because of sexuality"], ''Daily News'' (New York). Retrieved January 27, 2012.</ref> Widespread news coverage continued even months after the repeal date, when a photograph of Marine Sgt. Brandon Morgan kissing his partner at a February 22, 2012, homecoming celebration on [[Marine Corps Base Hawaii]] went [[Viral video|viral]].<ref>''Miami Herald'': Rothaus, Steve (February 28, 2012). [http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/02/marine-partner-reflect-on-gay-kiss-seen-around-the-globe-the-world-went-away-for-a-few-minutes.html "Gay marine, partner reflect on first kiss seen around the globe: 'The world went away for a few minutes'"]. Retrieved March 1, 2012; MSNBC: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120302193451/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc-tv/46574131 "Marine in gay kiss photo: Breaking stereotypes a 'good feeling'"], February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.</ref> When asked for a comment, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps said: "It's your typical homecoming photo."<ref>Rowan Scarborough, (March 1, 2012). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/1/gay-marines-kiss-sparks-praise-anger/ "Gay Marine’s kiss sparks praise, anger"], ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 1, 2012.</ref>

On September 30, 2011, Under Secretary of Defense [[Clifford L. Stanley|Clifford Stanley]] announced the DOD's policy that military chaplains are allowed to perform same-sex marriages "on or off a military installation" where local law permits them. His memo noted that "a chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion" and "a military chaplain's participation in a private ceremony does not constitute an endorsement of the ceremony by DoD".<ref>Keyes, Charley (September 30, 2011). [https://archive.today/20120707160432/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-30/us/us_same-sex-marriage-military_1_military-chaplains-marriage-act-military-installation "Military chaplains allowed to perform same-sex weddings"], CNN: Retrieved February 21, 2012</ref> Some religious groups announced that their chaplains would not participate in such weddings, including an organization of evangelical Protestants, the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty<ref>Stanley, Paul (October 6, 2011). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelical-chaplains-refuse-to-marry-gay-couples-on-military-bases-57498/ "Evangelical Chaplains Refuse to Marry Gay Couples on Military Bases"], ''The Christian Post'': Retrieved March 3, 2012</ref> and Roman Catholics led by Archbishop [[Timothy P. Broglio|Timothy Broglio]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA|Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA]].<ref>Andrew Tilghman, (September 30, 2011). [http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/military-same-sex-weddings-church-opposes-093011w/ "Church leader opposes DoD on same-sex weddings"], ''Army Times''. Retrieved March 5, 2012.</ref>

In late October 2011, speaking at the [[United States Air Force Academy|Air Force Academy]], Colonel Gary Packard, leader of the team that drafted the DOD's repeal implementation plan, said: "The best quote I've heard so far is, 'Well, some people's Facebook status changed, but that was about it.{{'"}}<ref>U.S. Air Force Academy: [https://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story?id=123275359 Don Branum, "Academy experts discuss effects of DADT repeal"], October 25, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2012.</ref> In late November, discussing the repeal of DADT and its implementation, Marine General [[James F. Amos]] said "I'm very pleased with how it has gone" and called it a "non-event". He said his earlier public opposition was appropriate based on ongoing combat operations and the negative assessment of the policy given by 56% of combat troops under his command in the Department of Defense's November 2010 survey. A Defense Department spokesperson said implementation of repeal occurred without incident and added: "We attribute this success to our comprehensive pre-repeal training program, combined with the continued close monitoring and enforcement of standards by our military leaders at all levels."<ref>Burns, Robert (November 28, 2011). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/28/dont-ask-dont-tell-marines_n_1115778.html "Don't Ask Don't Tell: Top Marine Says Service Embracing Gay Ban Repeal"], ''Huffington Post''. Retrieved January 31, 2012.</ref>

In December 2011, Congress considered two DADT-related amendments in the course of work on the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012|National Defense Authorization Act for 2012]]. The Senate approved 97–3, an amendment removing the prohibition on sodomy found in [[Uniform Code of Military Justice#Punitive articles|Article 125]] of the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]] as recommended by the Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) a year earlier.<ref name="sodomyban">Geidner, Chris (December 12, 2011). [http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/12/defense-bill-conference-report.html "Defense Bill Conference Report Strips Anti-Gay House Language, Keeps Military Sodomy Ban"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109071557/http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/12/defense-bill-conference-report.html |date=January 9, 2012 }}, ''MetroWeekly'': Retrieved February 20, 2012</ref><ref>Article 125's prohibition against bestiality was included in its definition of sodomy. House Republicans, the [[Family Research Council]], and [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] objected to the removal of "unnatural carnal copulation&nbsp;... with an animal" from Article 125, not "unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex". See: Herb, Jeremy (December 9, 2011). [https://thehill.com/policy/defense/181093-repeal-of-sodomy-bestiality-ban-sparks-fight-on-defense-bill/ "Repeal of sodomy, bestiality ban sparks fight on Defense bill"], ''The Hill'': Retrieved February 20, 2012: "The Pentagon, however, says that even if the article in the military code was repealed, having sex with animals would still be covered under different statutes. 'It is difficult to envision a situation where a service member engages in sexual conduct with an animal that would not be conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline or service-discrediting,' said Defense spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale."</ref> The House approved an amendment banning same-sex marriages from being performed at military bases or by military employees, including chaplains and other employees of the military when "acting in an official capacity". Neither amendment appeared in the final legislation.<ref name=sodomyban />

In July 2012, the Department of Defense granted permission for military personnel to wear their uniforms while participating in the San Diego Pride Parade. This was the first time that U.S. military personnel were permitted to wear their service uniforms in such a parade.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/20/u-s-military-can-wear-uniform-in-san-diego-gay-pride-parade-defense-department/|title=U.S. military can wear uniform in San Diego gay pride parade: Defense Department|date=July 20, 2012|work=CNN|access-date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715133803/https://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/20/u-s-military-can-wear-uniform-in-san-diego-gay-pride-parade-defense-department/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Marking the first anniversary of the passage of the Repeal Act, television news networks reported no incidents in the three months since DADT ended. One aired video of a social gathering for gay service members at a base in Afghanistan.<ref>NBC Nightly News: [https://archive.today/20120908124545/http://www.nbc.com/news-sports/msnbc-video/2011/12/no-incidents-reported-since-dadt-repealed/ "No incidents reported since DADT repealed"], December 21, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2012.</ref> Another reported on the experience of lesbian and gay troops, including some rejection after coming out to colleagues.<ref>Tejada, Alicia (December 24, 2011). [https://abcnews.go.com/US/frontlines-us-soldiers-reflect/story?id=15228953 "'Out' on the Front Lines: Troops Reflect on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'"], ABC News: Retrieved March 3, 2012</ref>

The Palm Center, a [[think tank]] that studies issues of sexuality and the military, released a study in September 2012 that found no negative consequences, nor any effect on military effectiveness from DADT repeal. This study began six months following repeal and concluded at the one year mark. The study included surveys of 553 generals and admirals who had opposed repeal, experts who supported DADT, and more than 60 heterosexual, gay, lesbian and bisexual active duty service personnel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shapiro|first=Lila|title=Don't Ask Don't Tell Study Shows No Negative Effects On Military One Year After Repeal|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/dont-ask-dont-tell-study_n_1868892.html|work=Huffington Post|access-date=September 10, 2012|date=September 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Belkin|first=Aaron|author2=Morton Ender|title=Readiness and DADT Repeal: Has the New Policy of Open Service Undermined the Military?|journal=Armed Forces & Society|volume=39|issue=4|pages=587|year=2013|doi=10.1177/0095327X12466248|s2cid=145357049}}</ref>

On January 7, 2013, the ACLU reached a settlement with the federal government in ''Collins v. United States''. It provided for the payment of full separation pay to service members discharged under DADT since November 10, 2004, who had previously been granted only half that.<ref>{{cite news|last=Geidner|first=Chris|title=Servicemembers Kicked Out Under Military's Gay Ban Since '04 To Receive Full Separation Pay|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/servicemembers-kicked-out-under-militarys-gay-ban|access-date=January 7, 2013|newspaper=Buzz Feed|date=January 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109011201/http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/servicemembers-kicked-out-under-militarys-gay-ban|archive-date=January 9, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>