On Sept. 20, 2011, the Department of Defense announced the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing non-heterosexual service members who did not reveal their sexual orientation while barring openly LGBTQ+ individuals from military service.
To mark the 12th anniversary of the repeal, the Defense Department declared that it is now working to upgrade veterans’ discharges that were less than honorable due to the policy.
Since the repeal, the Defense Department has helped eligible veterans discharged because of their sexual orientation access the benefits they deserve. More than 4 out of 5 veterans who’ve applied for discharge upgrades or records corrections have been successful.
Even as the Defense Department begins its system review, it may not catch everyone eligible for a discharge upgrade or record correction.
If you are an LGBTQ+ veteran or know of one who was affected by don’t ask, don’t tell, please visit defense.gov/spotlights/dont-ask-dont-tell-resources/.
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