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Pentagon Grants Honorable Discharges to LGBTQ Veterans
The Pentagon has granted honorable discharges to over 800 veterans who were discharged from the military due to their sexual orientation under the former “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. This policy was in place from 1994 to 2011.
Out of the 13,000 service members discharged under DADT, nearly 2,000 received less than honorable discharges. After 2011, many of those who appealed had their discharges upgraded. However, some may not have been aware of this option.
Last year, the Department of Defense launched a review of the remaining cases. The review led to the upgrade of over 800 discharges without requiring veterans to file appeals. This could impact their access to benefits.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that 96% of the veterans separated under DADT now have honorable discharges. This is a significant increase from the previous percentage.
The DADT policy was signed into law in 1993 and repealed in 2011. It prohibited openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving in the military.