The Pentagon has announced that hundreds of veterans who were dismissed from the U.S. military under the now-repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy have been given honorable discharges following a yearlong review. The majority of those dismissed under the policy were honorably separated, but nearly 2,000 were separated with less than fully honorable characterizations. After the repeal, those affected could appeal for an upgrade to an honorable discharge, making them eligible for full military benefits. Many were unaware of this option, leading to a proactive review to address the issue.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that 851 cases were reviewed, with over 800 qualifying for relief, showing the Department of Defense’s commitment to redressing the harms done by the policy. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was in effect from 1994 to 2011 and resulted in over 13,000 service members being discharged. This proactive review has resulted in 96% of those individuals now having an honorable discharge.
The announcement comes more than a year after the department began the proactive review process, which aimed to address the harm caused by the policy that prohibited gay and lesbian members of the military from being open about their sexual orientation. Historians estimate that at least 100,000 service members were forced out of the military due to their sexuality between World War II and 2011. The Pentagon’s actions demonstrate a commitment to rectifying past injustices and honoring the service of LGBTQ+ Americans who have long volunteered to serve their country.
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