U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI, pictured) and Charlie Rangel
(D-NY) on Wednesday announced legislation that would restore honor to
gay and lesbian service members discharged from the military because of
their sexual orientation by upgrading their records to reflect honorable
service,
Pocan's office announced on Wednesday:

The
“Restore Honor to Service Members Act” is about more than upgrading a
piece of paper. Every form of discharge previously given out prior to
the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” carries with it consequences that
can follow a service member for his or her entire life. While the
character of discharge varied, many members received discharges that
were classified as other than honorable or dishonorable, particularly
prior to the implementation of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in
1993. In many states, a dishonorable discharge is treated as a felony,
and service members receiving a general discharge, a lesser offense, can
encounter grave difficulties acquiring civilian employment. All were
barred from reenlisting in the military. Depending on the discharge
received, service members may also be blocked from voting, unemployment
benefits, participating in the GI Bill or receiving veteran benefits
such as health care, VA disability, and ceremonial burial rights at
military cemeteries.
The “Restore Honor to Service Members Act,”
turns the current broad review policy outlined in a memo from the Under
Secretary of Defense into clear and settled law. It ensures all
services members who were previously discharged because of their sexual
orientation receive a timely, consistent and transparent review of their
records so that gay veterans who served honorably have their records
rightfully upgraded to honorable. It also removes any indication of a
service member’s sexual orientation from the record, so they are not
automatically “outed” to those accessing their record and protects
against future discrimination by decriminalizing consensual relations
between same sex couples, bringing military law in line with Supreme
Court rulings.
Said Pocan:
“As we celebrate the considerable
progress we’ve made toward full equality in our military, we cannot
forget about those who continue to suffer because of the discriminatory
policies of our past. Our legislation ensures that gay veterans who
selflessly served our country no longer live with tarnished records that
prohibit them from receiving the recognition, benefits and honors they
deserve. By enshrining the implementation of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
repeal into law, our country can finally close this dark chapter of our
history and move forward.”
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