"They do not want the military associating with homosexuals." On December 21, 1993, just a month after Elder taped his account, the Department of Defense issued Directive 1304.26. Instituted by the Clinton Administration on February 28, 1994, the official US policy prohibited discrimination against closeted LGBTQ service members and applicants but barred openly LGBTQ persons from military service. "Don't ask, don't tell," as it was commonly known, remained in effect until September 20, 2011.