needed. >> what were the challenges? >> where do i begin? the biggest challenge was hiding who i was. i got out before don't ask, don't tell was lifted. >> in 1993, president bill clinton enacted don't ask/don't tell, banning the discrimination of enlistment based on sexual orientation. it required gay and lesbian service members to keep their identity secret so as not to disrupt military readiness. >> it is my duty as commander in chief to uphold the highest standards of combat readiness and unity cohesion of the world's finest fighting force. >> good order and discipline. if you look through the history of military discrimination, these are the rationalizations you will hear again and again, first used to prohibit everybody who wasn't white, then women, then gay folks, then trans folks. >> i guess i should clarify that