Senators: DADT Discharge Corrections Stuck in Red Tape

Three lawmakers say the Pentagon is putting too much red tape in front of veterans who want the word “homosexual” removed from their discharges when they were kicked out under “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday urging him to streamline the “overly burdensome process” for veterans to have their discharges corrected.

They say the discharge issue could become a barrier for future employment.

“As long as a former service member’s Narrative Reason for a discharge is ‘Homosexual Conduct,’ ‘Homosexual Act’ or ‘Homosexual Marriage,’ that service member is compelled to be ‘out’ to any future civilian employer and anyone else who sees the document,” the senators wrote. “Likewise, the negative re-entry code serves as a barrier to employment opportunities.”