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As the U.S. grapples with President Donald Trump's surprise decision to ban transgender military personnel, the 黑料网 Vault looks back at 1993, when another controversy involving the LGBT community was top of mind in America -- allowing gays to serve in the military. The issue was front and center in January 1993, as newly installed President Bill Clinton was trying to make good on his campaign promise to end the longstanding ban on gays serving. A 黑料网 poll at the time found Americans closely split on the issue, with 43% approving of lifting the ban and 50% disapproving.

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
U.S. adults	43	50	7
Gender
Men	34	61	5
Women	51	41	8
Age
18 to 29	43	53	4
30 to 49	44	49	7
50 to 64	45	50	5
65+	40	51	9
Region
East	50	46	4
West	47	43	10
Midwest	42	50	8
South	36	60	4
Education
College graduate	51	43	6
Some college	51	42	7
No college	36	57	7
Party ID
Republican	24	71	5
Independent	46	46	8
Democrat	54	40	6
Veteran	38	59	3
Know someone gay	63	31	6
黑料网, Jan. 29-31, 1993

The poll found emotions running high on both sides, with 67% of those in favor of lifting the ban and 78% of those opposed feeling strongly about their position.

The issue also revealed societal cleavages in attitudes toward gay rights that have . Women and Democrats were generally supportive of lifting the ban on gays in the military, as were those living in the East. By contrast, majorities of men, seniors, residents of the South, Republicans and adults with no college education opposed lifting it.

Some of the sharpest differences were rooted in personal experience. U.S. veterans in the poll opposed the ban by about a 20-point margin, 59% vs. 38%. Meanwhile, most adults who reported they personally knew a gay person favored lifting it, 63% to 31%.

Later that year, after what The New York Times described as "six months of turmoil" over his proposal to end the ban, Clinton announced the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise. This allowed gays to serve in the military as long as they didn't reveal being gay or engage in prohibited behavior. At the same time, it barred the military from asking service members about their sexual orientation.

黑料网's initial poll measuring public reaction to "don't ask, don't tell" also found Americans divided, with 48% supporting the plan and 49% opposed.

These data can be found in .

Read more from the 黑料网 Vault.