Director Johnny Symons' documentary delivers a straightforward and detailed account of the United States "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which has made military service illegal for openly gay individuals. Following veterans who left the military as a result the policy, including local Alan Steinman, co-founder of the Puget Sound chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights, "Ask Not" takes a personal approach in critiquing the U.S. military.
One interesting component of Symons' 73-minute documentary is the inclusion of a currently active, anonymous gay soldier who is struggling overseas in Iraq during the filming. The soldier describes living a double life in a social climate that is hostile toward homosexuals. While he lies about having a girlfriend back home, his friends must censor any written or verbal correspondences.
Besides individual accounts, the documentary also makes strong use of interviews with military experts and includes specific statistics that express just how many gay individuals have been excluded from military service in the United States. To further explain the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy the film clearly explains the political strife and social climate that led to the law's passing in 1993 during the Clinton administration.
To demonstrate the discontent many individuals feel, "Ask Not" follows young and openly gay protestors to recruitment offices where they are arrested after they are denied enrollment. Other instances of activism, including national college tours by gay veterans, are also highlighted in Symons' film.
Although the documentary was clearly produced with a biased agenda, Symons makes his point well with specific statistics and clearly delivered reasoning. Personal testimonials from active gay soldiers, as well as discharged veterans, are particularly moving and help the viewer identify with Symons' critique of the U.S. Military.
This film can be seen on May 29 at 7:00 p.m. and May 30 at 4:30 p.m. at the Harvard Exit Theatre. Symons is scheduled to attend both screenings.
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