Dear Friend,
Since the Second World War, more than 100,000 service members are estimated to have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation, many with less than honorable discharges that have barred them from the benefits that they earned and are entitled to, such as GI bill tuition assistance and veterans’ health care. These negative discharges have far-reaching consequences in their civilian lives as well, preventing some veterans from voting and making it more difficult for them to acquire civilian employment.
Congress is finally acting to remedy this horrible discriminatory policy. The “Restore Honor to Service Members Act” was recently introduced by a bi-partisan group of legislators to help veterans who were removed from the armed forces for their sexual orientation by giving these veterans the opportunity to have their records corrected to reflect their honorable service.
In addition to asking your Senators and Representative to support this bill, we need personal stories of veterans who would benefit from passage of this legislation. If you or someone you know is a veteran who was discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, please call the American Humanist Association at 202-238-9088.
American service members should be honored for the sacrifices they have made for our country, regardless of sexual orientation. With your help, we can ensure that all those that have served are treated fairly.
Sincerely,
Roy Speckhardt
Executive Director