The Pentagon has upgraded the status of more than 800 military personnel who were previously kicked out of the military under the former infamous policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
On Tuesday, the Department of Defense made the announcement, saying the service records of those personnel have now been upgraded to being an honorable discharge.
This move is the latest in a long line that have sought to undo decades of discrimination against service members who are part of the LGBTQ community.
Article 125 of the 1951 Uniform Code of Military Justice outlawed consensual sex between two people of the same gender. That was modified in 1993 during the Clinton administration.
The modification, which was referred to as the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, allowed people of the LGBTQ community to serve in any of the U.S. armed forces, as long as they didn’t disclose to others what their sexual orientation was.
Congress repealed that policy back in 2011, allowing anyone to openly serve in the military regardless of their sexual orientation. Then, in 2014, the UCMJ code from 1951 was updated, only outlawing gay sex that was nonconsensual.
In June, President Joe Biden said he would be giving pardons to any former service member who was convicted under any of the military policies of the past that have since been repealed.
Even when the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was in place, thousands of members of the military still had their service ended without being honorably discharged. When this happens, former members don’t receive ongoing military benefits such as access to education.
In addition, the dishonorable discharge could likely have affected them when they want to apply for a loan or a job.
Lloyd Austin, the defense secretary, ordered last year that a review be done of the cases of these former members who could’ve been affected by the old policies.
According to the Pentagon, there are roughly 13,500 members who were released from their military service while the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was in place.
After this latest move on Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that 96% of these members have now been given an honorable discharge.
Some of the estimated 13,500 members who were affected by the policy didn’t need a full review of their cases. Some didn’t serve in the military long enough to even qualify for military benefits.
Others received an honorable discharge when their service ended, while others still already had their discharges changed to honorable by other means. That left only a small portion of the total who didn’t qualify to be upgraded, due to some other violation.
In a statement released this week, Austin said:
“We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all of our troops — including the brave Americans who raised their hands to serve but were turned away because of whom they love. We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country.”
