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• 1 media/Jennifer Dane USAF photo.jpeg media/Jennifer Dane and President Biden Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz.jpeg 2023-01-19T15:45:34+00:00 Jennifer Dane 112 Asking and Telling image_header 10 2026-01-26T00:59:08+00:00 Content Warning
  
  While most teenagers her age were preoccupied with band or cheering on their high school's football team under the Friday night lights, Jennifer Dane was struggling to make sense of her identity. 
  
  Born on September 12th, 1987, Dane grew up in a small, west Texas town — a place that proved difficult to find one's identity. With little exposure to members of the LGBTQ+ community and a lack of representation in the media, as a junior in high school, Dane's world came crashing down. Forced to come in and out of the closet, Dane struggled externally and internally as she experienced a lack of support and acceptance from those around her, including her own family, as well as the challenge of integrating her religious and sexual identities. All during a very pivotal point in her life. 
  
  Wanting to pursue higher education but lacking the means to do so, and wanting to serve her country, Dane enlisted in the United States Air Force on March 16th, 2010. Fulfilling her goal of working in intel, Dane worked as an intelligence analyst focused on geopolitical relations, terrorism, and threat vulnerability issues. Dane was also able to fulfill her educational goals while serving, earning a Master's degree in both Criminal Justice and Educational Policy. Dane was honorably discharged after serving six years on March 15th, 2016. 

  Serving During "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy Era

  When Dane enlisted in the Air Force, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" had been in effect for sixteen years. Signed into law by Congress and former President Bill Clinton in 1994, the policy ended the ban on LGBTQ+ members from serving their country — as long as they kept their identity a secret. Violation of this policy or engagement in any conduct deemed "homosexual" led to the service members' discharge (most of the time dishonorable), losing their veterans' benefits, or worse. 
  
  Dane had to sign paperwork that stated she was not, in fact, a member of the LGBTQ+ community and that she would not disclose otherwise. 

  "Because it says, 'You are affirming that this is true in fact that you are not gay.' And so I remember struggling in signing that and just knowing I was going to have to abide by that."

  Surviving Military Sexual Trauma During "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" 

  Shortly after Dane enlisted, she was sent to intel school that was to last nine months as she trained to be an all-source intelligence analyst. While in intel school, Dane was sexually assaulted by another intel trainee. 
  
  Dane not only faced retaliation after reporting but felt attacked like she was on trial herself. She encountered interrogations during the trial into her sexual identity, something she knew, if disclosed, would be grounds for her discharge. All while her assaulter continued with his service. 

  "I think that having to be questioned about my sexual orientation and having to go out and get an attorney to represent me in the process of potentially discharging me was probably more traumatic than anything else that I experienced. I think there is a lot that I could heal for sexual violence, but not so much from just being who I was."

  Serving as CEO of the Modern Military Association of America

  Dane's own experiences in the military pushed her to her current role today: CEO of the nation's largest non-profit working towards advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community. 
  
  Throughout her time as CEO, Dane has seen firsthand how the non-profit's ability to advocate for veterans within the LGBTQ+ community is affected by the U.S.' political climate and public support. Dane explains how changes in Administration and their support (or lack thereof) impacts the advocacy that the non-profit is able to accomplish, as seen with the Modern Military Association of America's involvement in refuting former President Trump's transgender military service ban. 
  
  Dane also highlights the difficulties the non-profit faces when it comes to public support. While society tends to revere American veterans, her organization is continually threatened because their advocacy for the interests of veterans within the LGBTQ+ community. 

  "But it is just really hard to know that there is so much hate that exists still on our community, and that we served, and we did our duty. We supported, and yet you think that we are traitors."

  Dane also works to shed light on another issue pertinent to the Modern Military Association of America's advocacy: the concept of military kids who identify within the LGBTQ+ community. Dane explains that military children who do identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community are affected by anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed in states where they reside, especially since they do not have a choice in moving to places that target them. 

  "Maybe the parents are not LGBTQ+, but the kid is . . . and making sure they are safe. The parents could have signed up for the military, but the kids sure did not."

  
  Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide

  American society often perceives the U.S. military as a homogenized entity, one that follows traditional values and has a male-dominant culture. However, Jennifer Dane's story and experiences in the military show us how harmful it is to think like that— it leaves out people that have served while facing barriers and obstacles such as sexuality, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and military sexual assault and trauma. 
  
  Through Jennifer Dane's experiences and her work with the Modern Military Association of America, we are reminded just how important it is to make room for all veterans, to amplify others' voices, and to speak out against injustices that are so endemic in our society. Especially those that affect the marginalized communities of veterans and service members that are too often forgotten. 

  Jennifer Dane's Full Oral History Interview

  
    

  Click to view Jennifer Dane's Full Transcript.

  Continue to explore featured stories from Jennifer Dane below. 

• 1 media/Jennifer Dane USAF photo.jpeg 2023-03-27T18:50:24+00:00 Serving Under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" 43 plain 51 2026-01-26T00:24:08+00:00 Introduced by former President Bill Clinton in 1993, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was signed into law by Congress in 1994, allowing members of the LGBTQ+ community to serve their country — as long as they kept silent about their sexuality. Under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," members of the military were prohibited from discriminating against other members they perceived to be gay. However, the policy did little to deter discrimination. Bisexual or homosexual members of the military were not allowed to disclose their sexual orientation or engage openly in same-sex relationships. Violation of this policy or engaging in "homosexual conduct" would result in the service member being discharged, losing their veteran's benefits, or worse.
  
  When Jennifer Dane enlisted to serve in the U.S. Air Force in 2010, she had to sign paperwork indicating that that she was not a member of the LGTBQ+ community nor would she disclose her sexual identity. 

  
  
  
  
  
  "Because it says, 'You are affirming that this is like true in fact that you are not gay.' And so I remember like struggling in signing that and just knowing that I was going to have to abide by that."
  
  
  
  
   

  
  
  
  
  The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy caused harm towards the LGTBQ+ community as it forced them into secrecy while doing little to combat the prejudice against them. By 2009, the military had discharged more than 13,000 lesbians, gays, and bisexuals since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was introduced. The policy has left a shameful legacy, even after being repealed in September of 2011. Members who had been discharged because of sexual orientation lost their career, lost access to veteran's benefits, including medical care, pensions, and were ineligible for the G.I. Bill. Many faced harassment, forced outings, and targeting from other service members. Even investigations surrounding sexual assault cases turned into investigations about sexual identity. The shortfalls of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy are still lingering today as members wronged by this legislation are still seeking remedies.