Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell as a “Policy Window”
| Published date | 01 March 2014 |
| Author | Colleen G Rodgers,Trevor G Gates |
| Date | 01 March 2014 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1358229113500419 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Repeal of Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell as a
‘‘Policy Window’’:
A case for the passage
of the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act
Trevor G Gates
1
and Colleen G Rodgers
2
Abstract
This paper argues that the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) in the United States
represents a policy window that would lend itself to the passage of a federal Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Although attitudes towards lesbian, gay, and bisexual
workers are changing, no comprehensive federal legislation to protect these workers
currently exists. Using John Kingdon’s policy analysis model, our paper considers the
history and evolution of public attitude that led to the repeal of DADT. Further, how
this evolution has opened a window of opportunity for the passage of a federal ENDA
is also considered. Implications for workplace advocates, including considerations for
policy, practice, and research, are explored.
Keywords
Organizational behavior, workplace discrimination, lesbian, gay, and bisexual workers,
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Employment Non-Discrimination Act
1
College at Brockport, State University of New York, USA
2
University of Texas at Arlington, USA
Corresponding author:
Trevor G Gates, Department of Social Work, College at Brockport, State Universityof New York,
350 New Campus Dr Brockport, NY 14420, USA.
Email: tgates@brockport.edu
International Journalof
Discrimination and theLaw
2014, Vol. 14(1) 5–18
ªThe Author(s) 2013
Reprints and permission:
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DOI: 10.1177/1358229113500419
jdi.sagepub.com
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