MacDill AFB honors LGBTQ+ Service Members of past, present, future, 2021 (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that more than 800 Veterans who were discharged from the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy have had their discharges upgraded to honorable status.
The DADT policy, in effect from 1994 until its repeal in 2011, led to the separation of more than 13,000 service members. Around 2,000 of these Veterans received less-than-honorable discharges, which often barred them from access to healthcare, educational benefits, and VA home loan programs.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s statement confirmed that the Department of Defense completed a proactive review of nearly 850 cases, recommending honorable discharge upgrades for 96.8% of them. This automatic upgrade process ensures that affected Veterans will have their military records amended without the need to file an appeal. For many, the updated discharge status will unlock benefits and resources that were previously inaccessible, including financial aid for education, VA loans, and medical benefits.
The decision to launch this review followed President Biden’s June announcement, which included issuing pardons for LGBTQ+ individuals previously convicted under military laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships. The review primarily addressed cases from the DADT period, while Veterans who were discharged before 1994—when openly gay individuals were barred from serving at all—are still required to apply individually for discharge upgrades.
DADT, signed into law in 1993 during the Clinton administration, allowed LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the military provided they did not disclose their sexual orientation. Though it was presented as a compromise, the policy resulted in thousands of service members being discharged under suspicion or allegation of their sexual orientation. Many of these Veterans were subsequently denied benefits because of their discharge status, complicating their post-military lives. After DADT was repealed in 2011 under the Obama administration, Veterans who had been separated could apply for discharge upgrades, but the process often proved confusing, slow, and required legal assistance.
Now, Veterans affected by the review will be able to access new DD-214 documents reflecting their updated discharge status. These documents will be available upon request, as the DOD has outlined steps for Veterans to follow in order to obtain their revised records.
The Pentagon encourages all Veterans who feel they were unjustly discharged due to their sexual orientation to request corrections through the Military Department Review Boards. Although this proactive review has concluded, the DOD will continue to accept applications for those seeking upgrades on a case-by-case basis.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.