Don't Ask, Don't Tell

by Jeff Sheng, Major Mike Almy (Contributor), David Mixner (Contributor)

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Volume 2 is Jeff Sheng's second photobook featuring the portraits and stories of closeted service members in the United States armed forces who are still currently serving and affected by the laws that mandate the discharge of openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender service members in the United States military, due to the laws known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Between 2009-2010, American artist Sheng gained the trust of over 60 closeted service members and flew over 100,000 miles back and forth across the country to photograph these individuals at either their homes or local hotel rooms near where they were stationed. An entirely self-funded and self-published project, Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Volume 2 is a 100-page, full-color publication featuring over 40 portraits from the photo shoots done in 2010, along with selected anonymous e-mails detailing the experiences of these service members, many of whom have just returned from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sheng released this volume in conjunction with the September 18-October 23, 2010, exhibition of the series at Kaycee Olsen Gallery, Los Angeles.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Volume 2 features a foreword by Patrick J. Murphy, a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania and a former Captain in the 82nd Airborne division, awarded the Bronze Star for service in Iraq. The photobook also contains essays by discharged veteran Major Mike Almy and celebrated LGBT activist David Mixner.

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010