|
 |
 |
|
Senators: DADT discharge corrections stuck in red tape
Three lawmakers say the Pentagon is putting too much red tape in front of veterans who want the word “homosexual” removed from their discharges when they were kicked out under “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday urging him to streamline the “overly burdensome process” for veterans to have their discharges corrected.
They say the discharge issue could become a barrier for future employment.
“As long as a former service member's Narrative Reason for a discharge is ‘Homosexual Conduct,’ ‘Homosexual Act’ or ‘Homosexual Marriage,’ that service member is compelled to be ‘out’ to any future civilian employer and anyone else who sees the document,” the senators wrote. “Likewise, the negative re-entry code serves as a barrier to employment opportunities.”
“The Department should further clarify that, where there are no aggravating factors in the service member's record, the presumption should be in favor of correction,” the senators wrote.
“Veterans who were discharged under DADT should not be compelled to carry with them a narrative reason for separation that indicates their sexual orientation to anyone who sees their discharge document,” they said. “In order to begin to put the regrettable policy of DADT fully behind us, the process of getting these documents corrected needs to be accessible and achievable for all.”
