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It is the latest development over the decades to undo past
discrimination against LGBTQ service members.
The 1951 Uniform Code of Military Justice's Article 125 had
criminalized consensual gay sex. In 1993, former President Bill
Clinton modified the military's policy to “don’t ask, don’t
tell,” which allowed LGBTQ troops to serve in the armed forces
if they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation.
That policy was repealed in 2011, when Congress allowed for
their open service in the military. The 1951 UCMJ code was
modified in 2013 to be limited to nonconsensual gay sex.
President Joe Biden in June announced he was issuing pardons to
service members convicted under repealed military policies.
Under “don't ask, don't tell,” thousands of service members
still saw their military service ended without an honorable
discharge, meaning they did not receive the military benefits
they would have otherwise, such as education benefits, and it
also could have affected their ability to apply for jobs or
loans.
Last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a review of
cases of former service members who might have been affected by
the policy.
The Pentagon estimates about 13,500 service members in total
were released from military service under “don't ask, don't
tell.” With the review and upgrades of the more than 800 troops
announced Tuesday, the Pentagon said that about 96% of the
13,500 personnel affected by the policy now have received an
honorable discharge.
Not every case of the 13,500 needed review — some of those
personnel either did not serve long enough to qualify for
benefits, they were released with an honorable discharge at the
time, they already had their discharges upgraded through other
means, or they did not qualify for an upgrade due to other
violations.
“We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all
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,” Austin said in a
statement.
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