LGBTQ Veterans Advance Suit To Expunge Discharges

Courthouse News reports:

A lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ veterans who were discharged under rules that barred gay Americans from serving in the military cleared its first judicial hurdle Thursday when a federal judge denied a motion filed by the U.S. Department of Defense to dismiss the case.

According to the federal complaint filed last year, 35,081 veterans were discharged or separated from the armed forces between 1980 and 2011 “because of real or perceived homosexuality, homosexual conduct, sexual perversion or any other related reason.” Most of those veterans, including four of the five named plaintiffs, received less-than-honorable discharges — a permanent distinction that is sometimes visible to third parties.

The goal of the putative class action is to have the government remove all references to the LGBTQ+ veterans’ sexual orientation from their discharge papers, and when applicable, upgrade those discharges to ‘honorable.’

Read the full article. Hit the link for an explanation of the lengthy process currently required for individuals to expunge their discharge records.

LGBTQ+ veterans’ suit over discharge papers clears first judicial hurdle @hillelaron https://t.co/3DGyWH8p9t

— Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) June 21, 2024

Veterans may apply to correct their discharge papers, but the plaintiffs argue the process is lengthy and burdensome.https://t.co/SqEJHs18Oh

— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) June 22, 2024

LGBTQ veterans and advocates want justice for discrimination and are frustrated that an upcoming VA change for bad paper discharges may not achieve that. https://t.co/yBT5tjzhUj

— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) June 20, 2024

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