Another victim of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy

May 30, 2023 6:07 PM

DyceCA

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10121

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1187

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And Alan Turing also carries the stigma of being dead. Ditto Oscar Wilde.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Dude should contact their representative/senators.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

In my Service is was the good old "Section 50: Conduct prejudicial to the good order and ...".

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Honestly this is repulsive. What a disgusting shameful way to treat people. Queer vets deserve better god damn it.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Makes me wonder about that "again" from the MAGA people

3 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Stop wondering. That's absolutely on their agenda.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

American in the 90s was a great place to live for white people. We basically shut down the Japanese economy and were thriving. Houses were between 300-800% cheaper. We were in a tech boom and it felt like the future. What the MAGA people forget is that this era was Clinton. Then GWBush took over and shit all over it.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Man, I never knew about Japan. Just read about "Voluntary Export Restraints", wild.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Are you effing kidding me? They never resolved this??

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There was a guy on our ship that was asked, during Captain's Mass, why he failed a drug test and the dude looked the captain square in the eye and said "because my boyfriend put coke on this dick". The silence was deafening.

3 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Bahaha what a mess of a country

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

That last paragraph is pretty amazing of him given what he's faced. ❤️

3 years ago | Likes 115 Dislikes 0

Yeah, but its tiring having to be strong because republicans are so fucking weak that just hearing about gay people turns them into cock hungry monsters that cant be satisfied.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Demons run..

3 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

..when a good man goes to war.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

see, as a veteran my ass will not visit north korea or iran. its just a matter of, they arent known for being openly inviting to US military vets. i think if i was gay there is no way in hell my ass would join the forces before the repeal of DADT, im glad they repealed it, you do you, but ultimately that wasnt a safe place or time for lgbtq+ people in the military and i always wonder why people joined. unless they didnt know, then found out, in which case, my sympathies, anyway, expunge records

3 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 15

Well... despite the dangers, the GI bill meant that it was still one of the best options for getting an education and a house for peeps from poor families. Still is, these days.

3 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Most people I knew joined because of desperation to get out of the life they were in. Free room and board is one hell of a deal for people in poverty. I can’t think of a more vulnerable population that an outted gay teen in the south.

3 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

As a veteran, I joined knowing the military was hostile towards underrepresented groups. I had a hard time, but I'd do it again. The benefits outweighed the bad. I work with the military as a civilian and it's still the same environment. It's just not so openly hostile. But this time I can speak up for those groups when I hear those quiet conversations. The military is a slice of society. As long as there are small minded people, they'll also be those that joint the military.

3 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I understand why some joined friend. I knew at the age of 4 I would join the military, I had zero concept of sex/sexuality/gender and my desire to join, serve my country, and most of all protect the people who needed help (yup I was/am an idealist) was all encompassing. I'm certain others had/have that passion and hope to make a better future regardless of what flavor of person tickles their fancy.

3 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

In the '80s, all of society wasn't a safe place for LGBTQ+ people. Most of the developed world wasn't (not to mention developing countries). In the US, there were no employment protections until 2020, so you could be fired from any job for being openly gay. The gay & trans panic defenses were admissible in all US courts, and still are today in 39 states. Meaning it flat out wasn't safe to come out or be outed anywhere in the so-called land of the free. Neither in public nor in the workplace.

3 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

If you know you have to hide who you are anyway or your job opportunities are extremely limited & you can't safely walk the street, you might as well pick a career path that interests you or provides good benefits. But you're right that there were also many people who discovered their identity or admitted it to themselves rather late in life. Far more than today. Schools didn't teach anything (aside from rabid peer homophobia on the schoolyard) & libraries carried next to nothing on the subject

3 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

fucking VA needs to reclassify every vet discharged for sexuality, provide benefits and back pay as needed for ALL vets who have reclassified discharges, no matter WHEN they served.

3 years ago | Likes 89 Dislikes 1

Sadly the Bets have to file to have their DD224 changed. It’s a long process and takes patience.

3 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

*Vets

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

i am suggesting that no. the VA can do this themselves and send corrected DDForms to the Vets proactively. they have all the records to do so.

3 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

They have home of record info from when the were discharged. Considering bad conduct discharge would eliminate them from receiving benefits the VA would have no current records for any of these Vets.

3 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

There are now ways to get these DD214 changed. Find your local VSO and look at your options. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/states-make-it-easier-for-vets-who-were-kicked-out-for-being-gay-to-access-benefits-1.666864

3 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

Don’t go directly to the VA. The VA isn’t really there to help. They make the process overly complicated to weed out fraudulent claims. Instead Find a local Veterans service officer (VSO) American legion, Veterans of foreign wars, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Veterans(AMVETS). And some local municipalities have people who are there to help with VA claims. The process is long and takes patience.

3 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I want to second everything this guy said, he is 100% correct on all of it. Additionally, do NOT engage with ANY organization that asks for payment, if they ask for any money at all (beyond voluntary donations) they are a scam - it's a growing problem. I encourage all my veteran peers (especially any affected by the injustice of DADT) to pursue VA benefits, it's entirely worth it and there's a lot out there, you earned it.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you for adding the info about the scam bit. It slipped my mind. The VSO guys might ask you to join their organization if you meet the qualifications. They will provide info on becoming a member. But it’s not mandatory to get their assistance. They have annual dues and some fringe benefits.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

No problem! Yeah I only mention the scam bit because there's been an uptick in it the past few years. Some scammers will start an LLC to "help veterans file VA claims" and they'll try to make you give them a percentage of any disability payments, forever. My education is in CyberSec so I try to stay privy to trends like this.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm pretty sure they're scraping social media and job sites (primarily linkedin) to identify people who have recently or are about to separate, part of the "transition assistance program" prior to separating helps veterans on their resume and job search, so the vast majority of soon to be veterans are inadvertently identifying themselves for these fuckers.

3 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0