Senate Democrats have filed a resolution that could lead to an apology from the federal government for discriminatory actions against LGBTQ government workers dating back to 1949.
A resolution led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is being supported by 18 Democratic co-sponsors. This resolution is similar to the one sponsored by the duo in 2021.
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On Tuesday, Kaine made a statement indicating that the resolution is a renewed effort to rectify our past mistakes and promote LGBTQ equality throughout the country.
He stated that LGBT civil servants, foreign service officers, and service members have made immense sacrifices and contributions to the country’s national security. However, the government subjected them to years of harassment, invasive investigations, and wrongful termination just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The resolution highlights the historical discrimination that LGBTQ military service members, foreign service members, and civilian employees have faced. This discrimination is evident in legislation, congressional hearings, reports, and public statements made by members of the federal government. The infamous “Lavender Scare” of the late 1950s and ’60s, where homosexuality was linked to communism by then-Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.), is a prime example of this discrimination. Former Secretary of State John Kerry took a step towards rectifying this injustice in 2017 when he issued a formal apology to LGBTQ State Department employees who faced discrimination based on their sexual orientation during the “Lavender Scare.”
In Kaine’s resolution, there is a specific mention of the estimated 100,000 LGBTQ service members who were compelled to leave the U.S. military due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, from WWII to 2011. Additionally, the resolution acknowledges the numerous individuals who were forced to conceal their identities and live in constant fear while serving.
In 1994, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced a policy commonly referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The policy prohibited LGBTQ individuals from serving openly in the military and was only repealed in 2011. Recently, a group of LGBTQ veterans who were dishonorably discharged because of their sexual orientation sued the Department of Defense for failing to update their discharges to honorable after the policy was lifted. The veterans argued that their civil rights were violated due to the Department of Defense’s inaction.
The discriminatory nature of policies such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been acknowledged by the military. However, LGBTQ veterans who were given dishonorable discharges are still required to prove that discrimination took place in their individual cases in order to have their records corrected.
Critics have voiced concern over the recent amendments to this year’s NDAA, which were passed by the House controlled by the GOP. The amendments have been accused of unfairly singling out LGBTQ service members, specifically those who identify as transgender.
On Tuesday, Senator Baldwin, who made history in 2012 by becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Senate, expressed her support for a resolution that emphasizes the importance of treating all individuals who serve our country with respect, fairness, and dignity, regardless of any personal characteristics, including sexual orientation. The Senator proudly leads this initiative to demonstrate our commitment to creating a more accepting and equal society that aligns with the values of our nation.
