The Pentagon recently announced that over 800 military personnel have had their service records upgraded to honorable discharges after being discharged under the former 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy. This move is part of ongoing efforts to rectify past discrimination against LGBTQ service members.
Historically, the 1951 Uniform Code of Military Justice's Article 125 criminalized consensual gay sex. In 1993, President Bill Clinton introduced the 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy, allowing LGBTQ troops to serve as long as they kept their sexual orientation private. This policy was repealed in 2011, granting LGBTQ individuals the right to openly serve in the military. Subsequently, in 2013, the UCMJ code was amended to focus solely on nonconsensual gay sex.
President Joe Biden recently pardoned service members convicted under outdated military policies, further addressing past injustices. Many service members discharged under 'don’t ask, don’t tell' did not receive honorable discharges, depriving them of military benefits like education assistance and impacting their job prospects and financial opportunities.
Last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin initiated a review of cases involving former service members affected by the policy. The Pentagon estimates that around 13,500 individuals were discharged under 'don’t ask, don’t tell.' With the recent upgrades, approximately 96% of these affected personnel now hold honorable discharges.
It is important to note that not all 13,500 cases required review. Some individuals did not serve long enough to qualify for benefits, received honorable discharges initially, had their discharges upgraded through other channels, or were ineligible for upgrades due to other infractions.
In a statement, Austin emphasized the commitment to honoring all troops, including those turned away due to their sexual orientation. The Pentagon remains dedicated to rectifying past injustices and ensuring that every American patriot who served their country is treated with respect and fairness.
