Blade: Martin O'Malley unveils gay-inclusive veterans plan

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Washington Blade ?@WashBlade
@MartinOMalley unveils gay-inclusive veterans plan http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/11/09/omalley-unveils-gay-inclusive-veterans-plan/ …

Martin O’Malley unveiled on Monday a comprehensive plan to aid America’s veterans that includes a promise to ensure service members separated under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have honorable discharges.

The Democratic presidential candidate’s wide-ranging plan includes commitments to reach full veteran employment by 2020; ensure all veterans have access to health care and supportive services; end the homelessness epidemic among veterans; and protect men and women service members from sexual assault.

Embedded in the policy is a commitment to support legislation that would ensure “honorable” discharges for the estimated 100,000 service members separated for homosexual conduct both under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and earlier during the military’s administrative gay ban.

Although many gay troops were given “honorable” discharges at the time of separation, others, depending on the circumstances, received statuses of “other than honorable,” “general discharge” or “dishonorable.”

“The unjust Clinton-era ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy continues to harm veterans,” the plan says. “As many as 100,000 Americans may have been improperly discharged because of their sexual orientation. The consequences of a negative discharge are far-reaching and life-long. Despite their many years of service and sacrifice, these veterans may be ineligible for veteran status, denied critical health care and education benefits, disadvantaged on the civilian job market, and even barred from voting.”

Since the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which enabled openly gay people to serve in the U.S. military, the Pentagon has started processing paperwork to upgrade the discharges of service members separated for homosexual conduct to “honorable.” Critics say the process is cumbersome and must be streamlined.


read: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/11/09/omalley-unveils-gay-inclusive-veterans-plan/

related:

Martin O'Malley's MASSIVE VA reform plan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251787034

[FSogol]

1. K & R. n/t

[Jim Lane]

2. I confess I'd never even thought of this point

I figured that, with the end of DADT, the problem was behind us. I totally overlooked that there would be legacy issues because of less-than-honorable discharges that are still affecting people's lives. Good on O'Malley for picking up on this.

[ismnotwasm]

3. Excellent!

Brought to mind this sad headstone:


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[one_voice]

4. :(

[ismnotwasm]

6. I know right?

Heartbreaking

[one_voice]

5. K&R

[elleng]

7. “The unjust Clinton-era ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy continues to harm veterans."