Speak No Evil

“Don’t Ask‚ Don’t Tell” may seem an anachronistic relic of the early 1990s‚ but the policy of drumming out otherwise capable members of the military simply because they are gay or lesbian is alive and well. Despite two wars and the need for mission-critical skills like foreign language proficiency‚ same-sex love still gets you booted from the armed services.

Filmmaker Johnny Symons (whose previous documentary Daddy & Papa entertainingly explored the lives of gay parents) looks at where DADT is today in his new film Ask Not (starting June 16 on PBS; check local listings). After a quick look at the history of DADT and where the politics of the ban stand‚ Simons profiles the Call to Duty tour‚ which took victims of the ban around the country to talk about their experiences. Alex Nicholson, who speaks five languages (including Arabic)‚ is like the central casting ideal of a military man‚ down to his tight haircut. But his same-sex desire cost him his career and the country’s use of his skills.

More than a collection of talking heads and archive footage‚ Symons’ film includes demonstrations by the Right to Serve campaign‚ which has taken the struggle to recruiting stations. The documentary works best when it shows how public policy has incredibly personal repercussions and just might help accelerate the end of this national insecurity.


Ask Not premieres on PBS’s Independent Lens starting June 16. Check local listings for airdates.