Maine lawmakers are recommending the creation of a new office to help LGBTQ veterans involuntarily discharged due to their sexual orientation. The new office, envisioned by the state’s committee on veterans and legal affairs, would be part of Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services.
“Between the end of World War II and the 2011 repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, it is estimated that over 100,000 veterans nationally were involuntarily discharged from the services because of their sexual orientation,” David Richmond, director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, told the Bangor Daily News, which reported that:
No one knows how many Maine veterans received less-than-honorable discharges from military service because of their sexual orientation, but [Richmond] believes it is a significant number. …
The new office would help veterans get their discharges upgraded so they can access state-provided benefits. The office also will help them get the discharges upgraded at the federal level to qualify for federal benefits.
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