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Equality Caucus Praises New DoD Initiatives for Veterans Discharged Due to their Sexual Orientation, Including Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

September 20, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement praising the Department of Defense's new initiatives to better address the impacts and injustice of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and previous discriminatory military policies.

"The U.S. government has an obligation to correct the wrongs it committed when it dishonorably discharged veterans from the armed services due to their sexual orientation in the days of and before ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02). "For years, I've been pushing for the Defense Department to conduct greater outreach to veterans discharged because of their sexual orientation, including through my Restore Honor to Service Members Act, and I'm glad the DOD has announced new outreach campaigns to do just that. These outreach campaigns, along with the DOD's new proactive review of military records, will help ensure more of our veterans' records reflect their honorable service to this country and ensure they have access to the benefits they deserve."

The Department of Defense's latest initiatives include a new outreach campaign to servicemembers who were discharged because of their sexual orientation to encourage them to apply for corrections to their military records. The Department has also launched new resources and will begin proactively reviewing the military records of veterans discharged because of their sexual orientation who may be eligible for discharge upgrades, but have not yet applied

In 1994, the U.S. adopted "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), prohibiting lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals from serving openly in the military. Over the course of the policy's life, many brave servicemembers were discharged simply for who they were and whom they loved. After more than a decade and a half, this discriminatory policy was finally repealed; the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010" was signed into law on December 22, 2010, and DADT was fully repealed on September 20, 2011.

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Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional Equality Caucus is to promote equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, including intersex traits. The Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and around the world.