Hundreds get honorable discharges after Pentagon ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ review

The Pentagon has announced that hundreds of veterans who were dismissed from the U.S. military under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy have been given honorable discharges following a yearlong review. This comes after the policy was repealed, allowing those affected to appeal for an upgrade to an honorable discharge and full military benefits. Many affected individuals were unaware they could do so, prompting a proactive review by the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that over 800 cases qualified for relief, acknowledging the bravery of LGBTQ+ Americans who have served the country. The announcement comes after the department conducted a review of service members dismissed under the policy, which was in effect from 1994 to 2011, resulting in the discharge of over 13,000 individuals. Austin highlighted that 96% of those administratively separated now have an honorable discharge. Gays and lesbians dismissed during this era are part of a larger legacy, with historians estimating at least 100,000 service members were forced out of the military due to their sexuality between World War II and 2011.