US Rep Chuck Rangel (D-NY) has proposed legislation to “upgrade” the discharge status of those servicemembers who were kicked out of the military for being homosexual while it was illegal.

All servicemembers discharged because of sexual orientation would receive a “timely, consistent and transparent” review, and those who served honorably would see their records upgraded.   Any indication of a servicemember’s sexual orientation would be struck from their record, and consensual relations between same-sex couples would be decriminalized — bringing military law in line with Supreme Court rulings.

While it sounds sweeping, the bill would likely affect few servicemembers who have served since DADT was passed in the early 1990s.  After that, many discharges under DADT were “honorable,” so long as there wasn’t another mitigating factor.  That’s actually why there are urban legends — which aren’t actually legends — of people who claimed to be homosexual simply so they could get out of the military, with an honorable discharge.

Comments at the Stars and Stripes are mixed, with a substantial number of commenters agreeing that while DADT may be repealed today, it doesn’t change the fact homosexuals lied during their enlistment.

Tospeakthetruth: They lied about their “status”. They deserved the discharges they received and do not deserve an upgrade. Has nothing to do with being homophobic, but has everything to do with integrity and law.

The bill has not yet even been raised in committee.

ADVERTISEMENT