With perfect timing, Johnny Symons has given us a marvelous, stirring gift of a film telling the truth about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. As candidates attempt to revise history by telling us that this hideous policy was an important first step, Symons in his powerful Ask Not gives us the history and impact of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". So far, over 12,000 lives have been destroyed by this policy and the numbers just keep growing.

As we hit 4000 dead in Iraq, it must never be forgotten that one of the soldiers at the 4000 mark was a gay man whose sexual orientation the Army attempted to hide.

Ask Not approaches the failed policy from three different perspectives. Firstly, it follows the "Soul Force Freedom Riders" when they got arrested for their 'right to serve'. We see young Jake Reitan bravely lead the 'freedom riders' in an epic battle for dignity and justice against the military establishment. Secondly, we see former soldiers who had to serve under this policy fight to change it by telling their stories. And finally we witness the video diary of one gay soldier as he hides his identity while he prepares to leave for Iraq.

This important documentary will make it impossible for President Clinton to spin any longer that he had no choice. With accurate history, powerful testimony and moving witnesses, this policy resulted from a failure of leadership and political courage. It is that simple.

Symons Ask Not will be seen on PBS television stations at the end of this year or beginning of 2009. In the meantime, there will be screenings at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 26 and May 5. In between there will a screening at the Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on May 1. In addition, the Seattle Film Festival on May 29 and 30 will present the film. And finally it will be shown at the New York LGBT Film Festival in the first week of June.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an unforgivably unnecessary and vindictive policy that has wrecked havoc on so many individual lives -- heroic, patriotic people aching to serve their country whose only crime was their sexual orientation. Ask Not gives them an articulate and powerful voice. Go see it.