Gay and lesbian military members have been able to serve openly since 2011, when Congress repealed the controversial Don t Ask, Don t Tell policy.
But for some who were expelled for being gay before the repeal, their less-than-honorable discharge status means they can t access vital veterans benefits. Advocates for LGBT service members estimate as many as 114,000 were discharged for being gay between World War II and 2011.
Now, states are passing laws to expand benefits to LGBT veterans.
Rhode Island, New York, and Colorado are among the states that recently have restored state military benefits. Several other states are considering similar legislation. This needs to be corrected at the federal level as well, said Colorado State Senator Dominick Moreno, but at least at the state level we were able to create this classification that if you are an LGBT veteran, and you received an other-than-honorable discharge because of your sexual orientation or gender identity, then you de
/ Former Navy sailor Louis Miller stands on the deck of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier. Miller was kicked out of the Navy in 1992 for being gay.
Thousands of troops were expelled for being gay before Congress changed the law in 2011. Though many still don t qualify for federal veterans benefits, they now can receive state benefits in New York, Colorado, and other states.
Gay and lesbian military members have been able to serve openly since 2011, when Congress repealed the controversial Don t Ask, Don t Tell policy.
But for some who were expelled for being gay before the repeal, their less-than-honorable discharge status means they can t access vital veterans benefits. Advocates for LGBT service members estimate as many as 114,000 were discharged for being gay between World War II and 2011.
/ Former Navy sailor Louis Miller stands on the deck of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier. Miller was kicked out of the Navy in 1992 for being gay.
Thousands of troops were expelled for being gay before Congress changed the law in 2011. Though many still don t qualify for federal veterans benefits, they now can receive state benefits in New York, Colorado, and other states.
Gay and lesbian military members have been able to serve openly since 2011, when Congress repealed the controversial Don t Ask, Don t Tell policy.
But for some who were expelled for being gay before the repeal, their less-than-honorable discharge status means they can t access vital veterans benefits. Advocates for LGBT service members estimate as many as 114,000 were discharged for being gay between World War II and 2011.
Thousands of troops were expelled for being gay before Congress changed the law in 2011. Though many still don’t qualify for federal veterans benefits, they now can receive state benefits in New York, Colorado, and other states.
Gay and lesbian military members have been able to serve openly since 2011, when Congress repealed the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
But for some who were expelled for being gay before the repeal, their less-than-honorable discharge status means they can’t access vital veterans benefits. Advocates for LGBT service members estimate as many as 114,000 were discharged for being gay between World War II and 2011.
Jeronimo Anaya-Ortiz
Gay and lesbian military members have been able to serve openly since 2011, when the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was repealed. But for some who were expelled for being gay before the repeal, their less than honorable discharge status means they can’t access vital veterans benefits. Now, states are passing laws to expand benefits to LGBT veterans.
Advocates for LGBT service members estimate as many as 114,000 were discharged for being gay between World War II and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Some of them received other than honorable discharges, cutting off their access to state and federal veterans benefits.