U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced a bipartisan bill that would honor gay and lesbian veterans who were dishonorably discharged because of sexual orientation to the Senate Thursday, according to a release.
Lead sponsors U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., introduced the “Restore Honor to Service Members Act” bipartisan bill to the House in July.
The bill would establish the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” into law and ensure veterans who were discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation receive “the honor and recognition they deserve,” according to the release.
Approximately 114,000 service members were discharged because of their sexual orientation between World War II and the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” according to the release.
“We applaud Senators Schatz and Gillibrand for introducing the ‘Restore Honor to Service Members Act’ in the Senate and standing up for our gay and lesbian veterans,” Pocan and Rangel said in the statement. “This bill would close the book on 'Don’t Ask Don’t Tell' and provide [for] tens of thousands of gay veterans, who selflessly risked their lives for our nation.”
