Tag: LGBTQ

North Texas’s First LGBTQIA+ Affordable Senior Housing Development Completed

*This was first published for The Architect’s Newspaper

The U.S. has always been a difficult country to “age in place”—seniors who can’t find lodging with a loved one are often relegated to nursing homes, if they can afford the fees. The situation gets even more precarious for LGBTQIA+ seniors, who commonly see bias in the rental application process, and get turned down for apartments at high rates.

Things are especially dire in Texas, where state law doesn’t protect individuals from housing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, although LGBTQIA+ individuals are still protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. This exacerbates the problem and puts even more people at risk of poverty and social isolation.

Perkins&Will’s Dallas studio recently completed a new affordable housing project to help combat this public health crisis. Today, Oak Lawn Place in Dallas represents north Texas’s first affordable housing development of its kind, the architects shared. It offers 100 percent affordable housing for LGBTQIA+ seniors, 55 years of age and older.

Karen Chen of Sunshine Studios created a bespoke mural on every floor of the building. (James Steinkamp)

The Dallas neighborhood of Oak Lawn has been the beating heart of north Texas’s LGBTQIA+ community for decades. Oak Lawn Place was built with the developer Matthews Southwest, Volunteers of America, and Resource Center, one of the largest LGBTQIA+ community centers in the country and a key north Texas HIV/AIDS service organization.

“I’m seeing Oak Lawn Place transform people’s lives,” Resource Center CEO Cece Cox said in a press statement. “A project like this elevates everyone and makes Dallas a better place.”

In plan, Oak Lawn Place is shaped like a C. This was meant to increase natural light exposure within every unit; this feature also provides a protective wing that surrounds an outdoor deck, hidden from public view. The deck has great views of the site’s sloping topography and a nearby creek.

Mural by Karen Chen of Sunshine Studios (James Steinkamp)

Karen Chen of Sunshine Studios created a bespoke mural on every floor of the building, which helps with wayfinding. Oak Lawn Place was designed with maximum accessibility in mind—everything from the hallway seatings, elevator lobbies, to wheelchair-friendly doorways are meant to provide a positive user experience.

The design of Oak Lawn Place is economical and efficient, yet still manages to have splashes of color here and there; the facade has a rainbow flag to signify all are welcome. The 80,000-square-foot building has a total 84 units. It’s within walking distance of public transit options and Resource Center’s Community Center.

The building has a shared kitchen and other community-building amenities. (James Steinkamp)

“Oak Lawn Place helps make Dallas a more inclusive, inviting city—for those considering moving here and for those wondering, as a queer person, ‘Will I truly feel welcome? Are there spaces in Dallas for me?’ We are honored and proud to bring this project to life,’” Cox continued.

A new healthcare facility, Resource Center Health, will open across the street from Oak Lawn Place later this year.

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Study: LGBTQ youth, family relocate amid increasing anxiety over laws directed at them

*This was published on USA Today

More than a quarter million LGBTQ+ young people and family members in the U.S. have relocated to other states because of LGBTQ+-related politics or laws, according to estimates outlined in a new report exploring the population’s response to hostile policy environments.

According to the brief compiled by The Trevor Project and Movement Advancement Project, 9 in 10 LGBTQ+ young people say politics have impacted their well-being, while 4 in 10 say they’ve thought about moving to another state because of unfriendly LGBTQ+ politics or laws at home.

The portion was even higher for transgender and nonbinary youth, 94% of whom said politics had affected their well-being and nearly half (45%) who said they’d considered relocating.

“For many LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S., the steady stream of anti-LGBTQ+ news may feel overwhelming right now,” said Steven Hobaica, a research scientist for the Trevor Project, a national LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group focused on suicide prevention. “It’s heartbreaking to see that nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth have considered moving due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies.”

While just 4% of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 reported uprooting because of anti-LGBTQ+ policies, that translates to roughly 266,000 young people and family members based on LGBTQ+ youth population estimates, the groups said.

Trump administration presents new threats

The report comes as President Donald Trump returns to the White House after making gender identity issues a focal point of his campaign. On Monday, after being sworn in, Trump issued a spate of executive orders that included seeking to remove legal protections for transgender people in federal spaces, laying the groundwork to potentially bar transgender individuals from military service and declaring that the U.S. government will only recognize two sexes, male and female.

“No matter a person’s political beliefs, we know, from our research and from what LGBTQ+ young people tell us, that policies like these take a damaging toll on LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health,” said Janson Wu, The Trevor Project’s senior director of state advocacy and government affairs. 

The organization said its crisis services saw a 33% increase on Inauguration Day compared to typical volume. But that still paled, it noted, to the sevenfold increase in crisis services experienced the day after the 2024 election.

“No matter your political beliefs or how you feel about the current administration, one thing must be made clear to all of us living in the United States: Real young people’s lives are at risk,” said Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black.

Recent years have already seen increasing numbers of state laws and proposed legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, especially measures aimed at curbing the rights of transgender youth.

“It’s critical that we not only call attention to the negative impact of these divisive political attacks but also highlight that this research supports the idea that more inclusive policy environments lead to better outcomes for LGBTQ young people across a range of measures,” said Logan Casey, director of policy research for Movement Advancement Project.

Hostile climates raise mental, emotional health risk

The organizations said they compiled the report given a lack of research into how LGBTQ+ young people respond to hostile policy environments, despite studies showing that those youths experience greater mental health challenges and higher suicide risk in such environments.

“By gaining more knowledge of how LGBTQ+ young people respond to their policy environment, advocates and policymakers can create or modify policy to better support LGBTQ+ young people and their families,” the report said.

Their joint report is based on data gleaned from The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, which collected responses from more than 18,600 LGBTQ+ individuals between the ages of 13 and 24. It also incorporates data from Movement Advancement Project, a Boulder, Colorado-based group that tracks LGBTQ+-related laws and policies throughout the U.S. and its territories and assigns each a negative or positive policy index.

More than a quarter (27%) of respondents lived in states with negative policy indexes, the report said. Those individuals were more likely than their counterparts to consider moving to other states and also likelier to travel to other states to receive health care.

The report noted that not all LGBTQ+ young people and their families desiring to relocate have the resources to do so.

“Notably, the same factors that might preclude the ability of LGBTQ+ young people and their families from moving, such as poverty, housing discrimination, and employment access, are the same ones that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ people of color and increase their risk of mental health and suicide,” the report said.

Bob Daemmrich, USA TODAY NETWORK
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Same-sex marriages will soon become legal in Thailand after historic law

*This first appeared on AP News

BANGKOK (AP) — They have been in a committed relationship for more than 13 years, and even had a wedding in 2019. Since then, Danaya Phonphayung and Sunma Piamboon, both women, have considered themselves a married couple, even if same-sex marriages were not legally recognized.

The walls of their home in suburban Bangkok are decorated with faded photos from their happy union, filled with joy and love from their families and friends. Come this Thursday, their wedded status will be recognized by the nation as well, when a law that allows members of the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand to get married and have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples takes effect.

The couple said they can’t wait to formalize their union. They plan to register their marriage at a district office near their home on the very first day that the law allows.

“I think I’ll cry,” Danaya, an office worker, said with a big smile, thinking about the moment that they will sign the paper. “I’m so happy. It’s something that was more than I could’ve dreamed of, that suddenly this day is happening.”

“We live together. We bought a house. We bought a car. But we cannot share these things together like a married couple. When this is happening, we feel that it’s our rights that we need to secure as quickly as possible,” she said.

The marriage equality bill, which sailed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate, amended the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.” It would open up access to full legal, financial and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples.

Sunma, who owns a travel agency, said that she had realized how crucial being legally married was when Danaya was hospitalized with dengue fever, as they don’t live close to her parents.

“The doctors asked me who I was, and I said I was the girlfriend, and they were like, ‘so what’?’ I couldn’t make any decision until her condition became quite serious,” she said. “I was so upset, like, if I had lost her … there would be nothing that could’ve made up for it. So, I think this is very important for both of us.”

How marriage equality became law

Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, but struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society largely holds conservative values. Members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life, although they note that things have improved greatly in recent years.

The government led by the Pheu Thai party made marriage equality one of its main goals. It made a major effort to identify itself with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, in which thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.

Last week, Government House invited dozens of LGBTQ+ couples and activists for a photo op and a meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and several high ranking officials to celebrate the law coming into effect, making Thailand the first in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to legalize same-sex marriage.

“It is almost like a dream, but it’s not. So, congratulations to all,” Paetongtarn said. “I think it’s very important that the world notice us, and know that in this small country we have this kind of thought. We have this kind of support for our people. So, we all should be proud.”

The organizers of Bangkok Pride have collaborated with relevant government agencies to hold a grand celebration in central Bangkok and facilitate couples who wish to register their marriage on the very first day. They said that more than 300 couples have registered to officially tie the knot on Thursday at the event.

“(The law) is about returning our dignity, and confirming that we also have dignity as a human being,” said Ann “Waaddao” Chumaporn, a gender equality activist and the lead organizer of Bangkok Pride. “That day is going to be meaningful to all the couples that have gone through this journey together. I’d like to thank everyone, every love, that has faithfully struggled so that today would finally happen.”

How the law will be implemented

The government and state agencies in Thailand are historically traditional in outlook. To prepare them for change, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said that it has organized workshops for staff of all Bangkok district offices who are in charge of handling marriage registration. They included lectures raising awareness about gender diversity and guidance on how to properly communicate with those who come for the service.

“It’s like a missing piece of the jigsaw,” Bangkok Deputy Gov. Sanon Wangsrangboon said at one of the workshops earlier this month. “Society is ready. The law is getting ready. But the last piece of the jigsaw is the understanding from officials.”

He acknowledged there that would be problems in the beginning, but said that he hoped they would gradually improve over time.

After they register their marriage, Sunma said that she’s looking forward to having a “real marriage celebration” with her and Danaya’s families.

“It’s not just the two of us that are happy, but both of our families feel it is a big deal, and it is what everyone has been waiting for. Everyone said they are waiting for Jan. 23,” she said.

(AP Photo/Jirasak jivawavatanawanit)
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Trump two-gender edict would upend “X” identity on passports

This article first appeared on CNN.com

The federal government is set to only recognize two sexes, male and female, under an executive order that President Donald Trump is soon expected to sign.

The order would reverse efforts by the Biden administration to broaden gender identity designations, including on passports.

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said during his inaugural address Monday, taking an early step to fulfill one of his culture war campaign promises.

The order, a Trump administration official told reporters Monday, is aimed at “defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truths to the federal government.” Male and female “are sexes that are not changeable, and they are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” the official said.

The federal government would also shift from using the term “gender” to “sex,” and that sex would be “an individual’s immutable biological classification,” the official said.

All government agencies would ensure that official documents, including passports and visas, “reflect sex accurately,” the official said. Also, departments running federal prisons, migrant shelters, rape shelters and other “intimate spaces” would be directed to protect single-sex spaces for privacy. And employee records would also adhere to the executive order, as would federal departments’ messaging.

“Agencies are no longer going to promote gender ideology through communication forms and other messages,” the official said, adding that grants and contracts would be reviewed to ensure that “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.”

Reversing Biden expansion

Trump’s executive order would dismantle efforts by the Biden administration to be more inclusive of Americans’ gender identification.

As of 2022, US citizens have been able to select “X” as their gender marker on passports. One’s marker does not need to match the gender on citizenship documents or photo ID, nor is medical documentation needed to change one’s gender, according to the State Department.

“We promote the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ individuals,” the department’s website says. “We are demonstrating this commitment to better serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of gender identity.”

Later that year, Americans were able to start changing their sex identification with the Social Security Administration without needing to provide medical certification. However, Social Security’s record systems still require a designation of male or female, though the administration said it was exploring policy and systems updates to support an “X” designation.

“The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security number card application process,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, the administration’s acting commissioner at the time.

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Michigan Democrats are taking steps to safeguard same-sex marriage rights just ahead of Donald Trump’s potential presidency.

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation

Michigan Democrats are working to pass a bill that would enshrine same-sex marriage in the state’s constitution. This effort comes in response to concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn its 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized marriage equality nationwide. Additionally, some Republican lawmakers, including one state congressman, have called to “make gay marriage illegal again.”

Although the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell declared state laws banning same-sex marriage unconstitutional, Michigan is among several states where outdated laws or constitutional amendments still prohibit same-sex marriage. As Fox 2 Detroit reports, voters in Michigan approved a constitutional amendment in 2004 that defined marriage as “the union of one man and one woman” for all legal purposes.

If the Supreme Court were to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, as Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have hinted they may, Michigan’s marriage equality ban would automatically be reinstated.

In response, Democratic state Rep. Jason Morgan introduced House Joint Resolution F last year, which aims to remove the 2004 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. However, for this resolution to move forward, it must receive support from at least two-thirds of the state Legislature, a goal Morgan says will be difficult to achieve. “I believe the people will vote to support families,” Morgan told Fox 2, though he acknowledged that the legislative support isn’t there yet.

Meanwhile, Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver is actively calling for the reversal of marriage equality. In a recent post on X, Schriver stated that America only “accepted” gay marriage due to a “perverted Supreme Court ruling” and urged that marriage equality be overturned, calling it “not remotely controversial or extreme.” Schriver clarified that his post was meant to pressure the Supreme Court into reversing the ruling that equates “traditional marriage” with gay marriage.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has strongly opposed any efforts to strip away marriage equality, stating, “Any attempt to strip away gay marriage is wrong.” She reaffirmed Michigan’s commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens, emphasizing that no one should face discrimination based on who they love.

With a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court that has shown a willingness to overturn longstanding precedents, as seen with the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, and an incoming second Trump administration, many same-sex couples are rushing to marry before Inauguration Day to secure legal protections in states where marriage equality is still guaranteed.

Despite Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating that overturning marriage equality was never a campaign promise, Morgan remains concerned that the Trump administration poses a threat to marriage equality. “I do believe that marriage equality is at risk under the Trump administration,” he said.

If the resolution doesn’t pass through the legislature, Morgan is committed to continuing the fight to protect marriage equality in Michigan. As Fox 2 noted, a citizen-driven petition could also push the amendment to the ballot. “It’s just so important,” Morgan said. “This is something I’m very passionate about.”

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Ohio Governor Approves Ban on Transgender Students Using Preferred Bathrooms

This blog is originally appeared at ABC News

Ohio Governor Approves Ban on Transgender Students Using Preferred Bathrooms

Texas Transgender Community Fights Back After Capitol Bathroom Ban

Residents of Odessa, Texas, are speaking out after the city council amended a local ordinance to ban transgender individuals from using public restrooms that align with their gender identity. Meanwhile, in Ohio, Republican Governor Mike DeWine has signed a law banning transgender students from using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. The new legislation mandates that students in K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, must use the restroom or facility designated for their sex assigned at birth.

The law clarifies that it does not prohibit schools from constructing single-occupancy restrooms and allows individuals of the opposite gender to enter a bathroom to assist someone else, if necessary.

MORE: Congressional Bathroom Ban Adds to Growing Transgender Policy Debate

Ohio now joins at least 14 other states in restricting transgender individuals from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Supporters argue that the ban addresses concerns about student privacy and safety, while critics contend that it fuels baseless fears about transgender students and could put them at greater risk of discrimination or harm.

Governor DeWine’s office did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment prior to the bill’s signing. However, in the summer, he told reporters that he was reviewing the “specific language” of the legislation.

“I’m supportive of kids being able to use bathrooms that align with their gender assigned at birth for their protection, but I’ll need to review the specific language of the bill,” DeWine told reporters.

Transgender healthcare, bathroom access, sports participation, and other related issues have become central to the Republican legislative agenda across the country in recent years. This trend has led to a surge in anti-LGBTQ bills, with hundreds introduced during the 2024 legislative session alone, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

DeWine has occasionally bucked the state’s Republican leadership on transgender matters. In December 2023, he vetoed a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth, including restrictions on puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries.

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Mysterious posters appeared labeling trans women as “one of the most awful things you can say.”

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation


She had to slog through deep snow to remove them herself.

Hateful flyers circulated in Billings, Montana, falsely accusing local trans activist Adria Jawort of “grooming children,” according to local news outlet KTVQ. The flyers, which perpetuate the false narrative from the anti-trans right that all trans people are pedophiles, were posted near schools in Jawort’s neighborhood just days before Thanksgiving.

Jawort had to travel across town in heavy snow to remove the flyers herself.

“I was annoyed about it,” she told KTVQ, describing how the flyers misgendered her and made hateful claims about her life and sexuality. “I was just thinking, why am I doing this? Why do I have to do this? Why do people think this is okay?”

“The thing the flyer said, calling me a groomer and stuff, and basically labeling me as a danger to the community,” Jawort added. “It’s like one of the most awful things you can say. How does that become normalized?”

Billings police are currently investigating the incident. Lt. Matthew Lennick spoke on what constitutes hate speech: “Once someone transitions from making a general statement about their beliefs or another group to a targeted attack on an individual… a victim could take civil action against someone attempting to defame them.”

Possible criminal charges could include disorderly conduct, stalking, intimidation, or harassment, among others.

While Jawort knows the group responsible, she says she’s more frustrated by the ongoing attacks on state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D-MT). Recently, Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to ban her from women’s bathrooms.

Jawort has been targeted before. Last year, a lecture she was set to give at a library was canceled after a drag ban, with staff citing concerns that hosting a transgender person posed “too much of a legal risk.” This led her to file a lawsuit against the state.

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Politics: Republican Speaker Mike Johnson Proposes Restricting Capitol Hill Restrooms for Trans Individuals

This blog is originally appeared at Them

New Policy by Speaker Johnson Mandates Capitol Facilities Be “Reserved for Individuals of That Biological Sex”

Speaker Mike Johnson Announces Policy Banning Transgender Women from Women’s Restrooms and Changing Facilities on Capitol Hill, Likely Targeting Rep. Sarah McBride

Speaker Mike Johnson Declares Capitol and House Office Building Single-Sex Facilities Reserved for Individuals of Biological Sex in Statement Released on Trans Day of Remembrance.

Speaker Mike Johnson Defends New Bathroom Policy, Targeting Rep. McBride, as GOP Figures Push for Bathroom Ban

Speaker Mike Johnson’s new policy, which reserves single-sex facilities in Capitol Hill for individuals of their biological sex, has sparked controversy, especially as it coincides with Trans Day of Remembrance. Johnson emphasized that each member of Congress has access to a private bathroom but insisted, “women deserve women’s only spaces.” In previous remarks, Johnson reiterated his belief that “a man cannot become a woman,” further fueling criticism of his long history of anti-LGBTQ+ statements.

The policy appears to specifically target Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride, the first out transgender woman elected to Congress. McBride has become a focal point of the debate as South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution for a formal bathroom ban in the House, directly aimed at McBride. Mace referred to herself as “[a] Full TERF” and dismissed McBride’s right to access women’s private spaces.

In response, McBride urged Democrats to disregard these anti-trans actions, framing them as a distraction from more pressing issues. “This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars,” she said in a statement. McBride later posted on social media, emphasizing her focus on fighting for Delawareans rather than engaging in debates over bathrooms.

LGBTQ+ Advocates Warn Against Dismissing GOP Anti-Trans Policies as Distractions

While Rep. Sarah McBride has urged her fellow Democrats to focus on issues like healthcare and housing instead of engaging in culture wars, some LGBTQ+ advocates argue that the GOP’s anti-trans policies should not be ignored or treated solely as distractions. Jeff Main, cofounder of the trans-led nonprofit Point of Pride, emphasized that these proposals are real threats.

“In addition to being a distraction, these proposals are direct threats,” Main told CBS News Philadelphia. “It’s more than just access to a bathroom or healthcare. It’s about existing. It’s about our right to live authentically, safely, and with pride.” Main expressed concern over the broader implications of these policies for the trans community, stressing the importance of defending basic rights and safety.

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LGBTQ+ Nightclub Owner Found Murdered in His Car

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

Omar Guido Chávez, the 51-year-old owner of Sodoma NightClub, a popular LGBTQ+ gogo bar in Tijuana, Mexico, was discovered dismembered in the trunk of his own car on October 18.

Authorities have indicated that evidence linking the Sinaloa drug cartel to the crime was found in Chávez’s vehicle. While police have arrested two suspects, they are not treating the murder as a hate crime.

In the back seat of the car, investigators found a “narco-banner,” a message commonly used by drug cartels to convey threats and warnings.

On Friday, two suspects, identified in reports as “Gabriel N.” and “Juan Diego N.,” were taken into custody. Surveillance footage reportedly connected Gabriel N. to Chávez’s abandoned vehicle. The suspects allegedly attempted to flee when stopped by police for driving without headlights and seatbelts, running from the scene on foot.

Baja California homicide prosecutor Miguel Ángel Gaxiola stated there is no evidence suggesting that anti-LGBTQ+ bias played a role in the murder, noting that there were no prior threats against Chávez or the nightclub. Investigators believe the murder may be linked to ongoing conflicts between rival drug cartels.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Sodoma NightClub expressed their sorrow over Chávez’s passing, remembering him as a beloved friend and outstanding leader. “We will always remember his smile, love for life, and noble heart,” the club wrote, extending condolences to his family and friends.

On the night of October 27, the nightclub hosted a showcase of guest artists as a tribute to Chávez.

Local LGBTQ+ organization Comunidad ABC shared an open letter on Facebook, calling on authorities to ensure the safety of all individuals in Baja California. The letter emphasized the need for thorough investigations, sensitivity towards diverse communities, and a commitment to preventing future tragedies. “We will not cease our pursuit of justice for Omar Guido and all victims of violence in our community,” it stated.

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800 service members kicked out under DADT just got discharges upgraded to honorable

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

The Department of Defense has announced that 800 military members who were discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) have received upgrades to honorable discharges.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shared the news today, highlighting that just over a year ago, the Department began proactively reviewing the records of former service members discharged due to their sexual orientation under DADT. These individuals may have been eligible for an upgrade to their discharge status or a change to their reason for separation but had not yet applied for the change.

“After a year of exceptional work, the Military Department Review Boards directed relief in 96.8% of the 851 cases that they proactively reviewed,” Austin said.

This marks a significant step in addressing the injustices faced by LGBTQ+ service members during the DADT era.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) was a 1990s policy that prohibited gay and bisexual individuals from serving openly in the military. Under this policy, service members couldn’t openly declare their sexual orientation, but the military was also barred from actively investigating, harassing, or discriminating against non-straight personnel. While it aimed to provide some level of protection, the policy still enforced secrecy and led to the discharge of countless LGBTQ+ service members.

An estimated 14,000 service members were separated under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) with less-than-honorable discharges before the policy was repealed in 2011. These discharges meant that veterans received fewer benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including assistance with home loans, tuition, and healthcare.

Last year, a group of veterans filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Defense, seeking to overturn their less-than-honorable discharges. The lawsuit argued that many veterans, discharged because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, were given a discharge status or separation codes publicly linked to “homosexuality,” depriving them of the benefits they earned through their service.

Veterans with less-than-honorable discharges often face significant hurdles when applying for jobs, apartments, and loans, as they are required to present their DD-214 discharge papers — documents that can involuntarily out them as LGBTQ+ every time they are shown.

“This case is not about damages,” said Jocelyn Larkin, one of the lawyers involved in the lawsuit. “It’s about changing that piece of paper because the impact of changing it is so incredibly consequential for our clients.”

This past January, Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) sent a letter to Secretary Austin urging him to expedite the process of upgrading less-than-honorable discharges for LGBTQ+ service members. They noted that many veterans who sought upgrades have experienced a prolonged, burdensome process that often required legal help, and that many were unaware they even had the option to seek an upgrade.

Today, Secretary Austin reported that 96% of the service members separated under DADT have now received honorable discharges. “We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country,” Austin said.

To stay up-to-date on the latest news shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide, subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter.

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