WASHINGTON – Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton proposed on Saturday that military records be amended to upgrade dishonorable discharges imposed on gay, lesbian and transgender military veterans.
People drummed out of the armed services in years past for being gay should be able to get their records changed to reflect an honorable discharge, Clinton said.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is over, but that doesn’t change the fact that more than 14,000 men and women were forced out of the military for being gay, some long before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell even existed,” Clinton said, referring to the 1993 law that allowed gays and lesbians to serve in the military if they did not reveal their sexual orientation.
“They were given less than honorable discharges,” Clinton said. “I can’t think of a better way to thank those men and women for their service than by upgrading their service records.”
Addressing the influential gay-rights organization Human Rights Campaign, Clinton thanked gay-rights activists for their strong support over her political career and was frank about her own change of heart about gay marriage.
“You helped changed a lot of minds, including mine,” Clinton said to applause. “I personally am very grateful for that.”
Politically active gay and lesbian people are an important constituency for Democrats, in no small measure because of strong financial support for Democratic candidates. Clinton has held several lucrative fundraising parties at the homes of gay supporters this year.
She pledged Saturday to build on the Supreme Court ruling guaranteeing marriage equality, and got in a few digs at Republicans for opposing the expansion of gay rights and legal protections.
“I see the injustices and the dangers you and your families still face, and I am running for president to end them once and for all,” she said to cheers and chants of “Hill-a-ry, Hill-a-ry.”
