Ask Not

Short Synopsis

Ask Not is a provocative documentary that reveals the stories behind “don’t ask don’t tell,” exposing the tangled political battles that led to the discriminatory law. The film profiles closeted American servicemembers and charismatic activists fighting for their right to serve.

Description/Treatment

Summary
ASK NOT is a rare and compelling exploration of the effects of the US military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy. A provocative portrait of bravery amidst exclusion, ASK NOT reveals the personal stories of Americans willing
to risk their lives for a country that criminalizes the act of coming out. Current and veteran gay soldiers reveal how “don’t ask, don’t tell” affects them as they serve in combat under a veil of secrecy, uncertain of whom they can trust. The film also follows gay veterans and youth organizers, from a national speaking tour of conservative universities to protests at military recruitment offices, to question how the US military can claim to represent democracy and freedom while denying one segment of the population the right to serve. ASK NOT reveals rare archival footage and key historical interviews with policy experts to explain the history and implementation of DADT. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” remains one of the most blatant forms of government-imposed discrimination still existing as law, yet no comprehensive, widely distributed documentary has been produced on the topic. ASK NOT provokes thoughtful dialogue about the merits of banning those who are honest about their identities from serving their country.

Film Treatment
The film interweaves three principal story lines:

The Call to Duty Tour
Raised in a military family in rural South Carolina, Alex Nicholson left college to join the Army. His tour of duty ended abruptly after his two best friends outed him to the unit commander, who discharged him under DADT. Now 24, Alex knows he will not succeed at his goal of rejoining the military, despite the fact that he is trained as a human intelligence coordinator and speaks 5 languages, including Arabic. Instead, he devises the Call to Duty Tour, leading a group of young gay veterans on a cross-country tour of college campuses to spark public debate about DADT. Along the way, they respond to callers on a conservative Southern talk radio show, tackle questions from evangelical Christians, and encounter military cadets chanting homophobic cadences. We also witness the emergence of an unusual romance between Alex and tour co-director Jarrod Chlapowski — two beefy, conservative, all-American young men who are as open and proud of their sexual orientation and their relationship as they are of their military service.

The Right to Serve Campaign
Jake Reitan and Haven Herrin are two passionate and ambitious young Americans determined to bring justice to the world. Calling DADT “the worst form of public discrimination in society today,” they concoct a plan to draw attention to DADT that is shockingly simple. In 30 cities across the country — from Shreveport to Minneapolis, Philadelphia to Oklahoma City — openly gay young men and women walk into military recruitment centers and attempt to enlist. While media cameras film the spectacles, recruiters are forced to deny their applications under DADT, and the activists sit down in the recruitment offices, refusing to leave until they are handcuffed, hauled out and loaded into squad cars by local police. The Right to Serve campaign culminates at the Army/Navy recruitment center in the center of New York’s Times Square. While two Right to Serve organizers discuss the absurdity of the policy with recruiters inside the center, dozens of supporters sit outside in silence, their mouths covered in duct tape as military recruitment videos blare from a giant TV screen above the office.

The Active Duty Soldier
Four men sit at an outdoor café in San Francisco, their somber mood a marked contrast to the happy couples walking by. “Perry” is enjoying his last few moments of gay freedom with friends before shipping off to Iraq. Intrigued by the idea of engaging in the most pressing political issue of his time, Perry enlisted in the Army less than one year ago. He explains to his friends that the military has promised to repay his student debt, and he genuinely believes that his service will improve the lives of the suffering Iraqi people. But his decision to enlist comes with a sacrifice—he must go back into the closet to serve. His friends press him for answers: Whom will you confide in? Are you worried about the danger of a combat zone? Are you aware that this experience may change you for the rest of your life? The questions weigh on Perry as he packs his duffel bag and puts the rest of his possessions—and his gay identity—in storage.

The film continues to follow Perry’s life as a closeted African-American soldier through his personal video diary while serving in Iraq. As the war rages on, Perry becomes increasingly disillusioned with the military and bemoans the loss of his gay identity. After six months of combat, he gets a two-week vacation and travels to France, where he visits the American cemetery in Normandy. While walking amongst the gravestones, he questions why he, as a soldier who risks his life daily on the streets of Baghdad, should have the added burden of hiding his true identity.

The Political Landscape
Interspersed with these three principal storylines are interviews with policy experts who explain the history and implementation of DADT. David Mixner, the political advisor who publicized Clinton’s campaign promise to lift the ban, describes the gay community’s initial hope and ultimate disappointment when Clinton instead compromised on DADT. Retired Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis praises the policy and explains why he feels homosexuals are not fit to serve. Retired Coast Guard officer Vince Patton contrasts Clinton’s compromise with Harry Truman’s bold decision to racially integrate the military in 1948. Throughout the film, statistics illustrate the impact and injustices of the policy.

Meanwhile, each storyline, and its accompanying narrative arc, raises different core questions. As Alex, Jarrod, and other young veterans travel the country engaging people in dialogue about their service, we are asked to confront: What is in the best interest of our national security— upholding DADT or maintaining as many trained US military personnel as possible? What should take precedence—the bigotry of homophobic soldiers who don’t want to serve with openly gay peers, or the desire of gay soldiers to serve their country honestly? As Jake and Haven, following in the steps of the civil rights movement, assertively challenge recruiters to enlist them as openly gay young adults, we ask ourselves: To what degree is the injustice DADT foists on lesbians and gays analogous to racial segregation? When you feel certain that a federal policy must change, what forms of civil disobedience are acceptable? And as we watch Perry leave his gay friends and family and march off into combat, alone and stripped of the system of support which his heterosexual comrades take for granted, we wonder: What are the essential qualifications for a good soldier? Is it ethical to ask those who serve their country to deny their sexual orientation?

Distribution and Outreach Status
ASK NOT moved audiences to tears at its premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April, 2008, and has continued to inspire more viewers at other notable festivals, including the United Nations Association Film Festival, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, and a special screening and panel discussion as part of The New York Times' TimesTalks series. After many such events, lesbian, gay, and bisexual military veterans have engaged the audiences in Q&A’s and discussions. In June 2009, ASK NOT will broadcast nationally on PBS' Independent Lens. PBS has selected the film to be part of its Community Cinema series, sponsoring screenings followed by facilitated discussions in conjunction with community groups in over 50 cities in May 2009. Building on the momentum created by the film, we are currently developing an outreach campaign that brings together concerned citizens with community-based organizations active in the effort to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." With a new administration and Congress taking over in 2009, the current exclusion of openly gay servicemembers during a time of war stands poised to be a matter of considerable debate in the months to come. Through a comprehensive outreach campaign, ASK NOT can be a critical tool in educating and engaging the population in discussion and shifting opinions about this important national issue.