The Pentagon plans to make it easier for LGBTQ+ veterans to retroactively obtain honorable discharges they may have been denied because of their sexuality, CBS News has learned.
they were deprived of access to the full spectrum of veterans benefits, including VA loan programs, college tuition assistance, health care and some jobs.
"For decades, our LGBTQ+ Service members were forced to hide or were prevented from serving altogether," Austin said."Even still, they selflessly put themselves in harm's way for the good of our country and the American people. Unfortunately, too many of them were discharged from the military based on their sexual orientation — and for many this left them without access to the benefits and services they earned.
To help ease that burden, the Defense Department plans to conduct a review of veterans' records who served under"don't ask, don't tell" for a possible recommendation of a discharge upgrade. This means that these veterans would not have to apply for the upgrade themselves, a process that both veterans and experts have said is often unsuccessful without the help of a lawyer.
"Over the past decade, we've tried to make it easier for Service members discharged based on their sexual orientation to obtain corrective relief," Austin also said in his statement."While this process can be difficult to navigate, we are working to make it more accessible and efficient."
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