How the CIA Came Out of the Closet

One Less Secret

For decades, gay and lesbian intelligence officers had to keep their sexuality a secret. Then came a remarkable shift.

Published Jul. 31 2015 7:15PM EDT

Tracey Ballard applied to join the Central Intelligence Agency in 1985. The last step in her months-long vetting was a polygraph exam. Ballard knew that she might be asked about her sexuality.

Shane Harris

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How the CIA Came Out of the Closet

For decades, gay and lesbian intelligence officers had to keep their sexuality a secret. Then came a remarkable shift.

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Shane Harris