ARLINGTON, Va. — The Pentagon on Tuesday granted honorable discharges to more than 800 veterans who were separated from the U.S. military because of their sexual orientation under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which was in effect from February 1994 to September 2011.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on the Defense Department's website: "Under President Biden's leadership, the Department of Defense has taken extraordinary steps to redress the harms done by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and other policies on these former Service members.
"What this means is, of the nearly 13,500 individuals who were administratively separated under Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and served long enough to receive a merit-based characterization of service, 96% now have an honorable discharge," said Sabrina Singh, Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary, during a news conference Tuesday at the Pentagon.
The old policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants. But, at the same time, it barred openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual people from military service.
In all, more than 13,500 military members got kicked out. Of those, close to 2,000 received less than fully honorable discharges, according to Christa Specht, head of legal policy at the DOD's Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
After 2011, most of those who filed appeals were upgraded, but others might not have been aware this was an option.
Last year, the Defense Department began a proactive review of the remaining cases. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that its review has led to an upgrade for more than 800 veterans, without them having to appeal. This could affect the benefits they have access to.
The Pentagon announced that those former military personnel have now had their service records upgraded to "honorable" discharges.
"We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all our troops, including the brave Americans who raised their hands to serve but were turned away because of whom they love. We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country." Austin said in a statement.
DADT was signed into law in 1993 under the administration of then-President Bill Clinton. In December 2010, then-President Barack Obama signed into law a repeal of the policy. It took effect in 2011.