Gay Veterans Sue Defense Department

Following their dismissals from the military due to their sexuality, LGBTQ+ veterans are suing the Defense Department. These veterans are asking the Defense Department to have their sexualities removed from their discharge records, as well as their discharges recorded as honorable.

Steven Egland, one of the named plaintiffs, says, “Our government and leaders have long acknowledged that the military’s discrimination against LGBTQ+ service members—and what was done to me—was wrong. The time has come to rectify it by correcting our records. All of those who served deserve to have documents that reflect the honor in our service.”

Many of these veterans were discharged due to the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. This policy allowed LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the military, but they could not be out or open about their identities. If the service member spoke about their orientation in a way that did not benefit the U.S. military, then they would be discharged. The policy caused the discharge of around 13,000 service members. This policy was removed in 2010.

These LGBT Q+veterans have served the United States just as much as any of the straight service members, if not more in some cases, and yet they were dishonorably discharged based only on LGBTQ+ discrimination. Military members who are not honorably discharged do not receive the same benefits as those who have been honorably discharged, such as college tuition, health care, and loan benefits.

In order to access many of the benefits for veterans, discharge papers must be provided. Having your sexuality noted on such documents can be dangerous, as LGBTQ+ discrimination in the U.S. military is still rampant. This includes veteran’s associations and active duty, with the foundation of the military pretending as though these discriminatory injustices never happened. In the past, military members have been harassed, assaulted, and even jailed for their gender and sexuality. It is time for reparations.