California enacts a new law that will help military service members who were discharged because of their sexual orientation or identity during “don’t ask don’t tell” receive benefits.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the legislation on Saturday, “for decades, our bravest heroes, men and women who wore the uniforms of the armed services had to hide who they really were, and many were other than honorably discharged if their sexuality was discovered,” he said.
The military didn’t allow gays and lesbians to serve up until “don’t ask don’t tell” was passed in 1993. Which meant that they could serve as long as they weren’t open about who they were. 14,000 service members were dismissed because of their identity or sexual orientation during “don’t ask don’t tell.”
The law was repealed by congress in 2010, gays and lesbians were allowed to serve nine months later. A path for veterans discharged under “don’t ask don’t tell” to receive their benefits was then established but Newsom argues that more needs to be done to help these discharged service members access their benefits, stating that “many veterans sadly don’t know or can’t even access this important process.”
The new California law establishes that the states’ Department of Veteran Affairs will launch a “Veterans Discharge Upgrade Grant Program.” This to help past service members that were discharged because of their identity or sexual orientation during “don’t ask don’t tell” receive official veteran status and benefits.