The Road Through "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is an intimate documentary exhibition sharing the portraits and stories of LGBTQIA+ veterans who served before the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” featuring work by photographer, oral historian, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Theresa Scott.
Scott draws from her lived experiences as a Marine veteran and police officer to create work that bridges the distance between personal truth and public understanding. Her practice is rooted in listening, witnessing, and revealing the often unspoken struggles individuals face across many realms of service and identity. Through her lens and her interviews, she seeks not only to document but to connect—offering viewers an honest encounter with realities that are frequently overlooked or misunderstood.
Through this project, Scott aims to preserve a collective memory—one shaped by resilience, conflict, and courage—and to offer the public a clearer understanding of what it meant to navigate military life while denying essential parts of one’s identity.
A free artist talk & reception is planned for Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Pullen Arts Center gallery.
The exhibition is free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pullen Arts Center is operated by Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources and is located at 105 Pullen Road in Raleigh. For more information about the exhibition, gallery hours, or directions, visit the The Road Through "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Exhibition.
