LGBT Veterans

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut bill that would restore state benefits to gay and lesbian veterans discharged under the U.S. military's former "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is moving to the governor's desk. [ Read more → ]

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut lawmakers are seeking to restore state benefits to gay and lesbian veterans discharged under the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 34-0 in favor of legislation making veterans eligible for state benefits if they've been... [ Read more → ]

The Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to allow the same-sex spouse of a member of the military to be buried in a U.S. national cemetery. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki used his discretionary authority to allow the burial of Nancy Lynchild's ashes, the agency said Thursday. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- A national memorial honoring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender veterans representing the five armed services -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard -- is slated to be constructed on the grounds of the historic Congressional Cemetery in southeast D.C. Washington D.C. [ Read more → ]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on Monday asked a federal court to block efforts by U.S. House Republicans to further delay a decorated 12-year U.S. Army veteran in a legal same-sex marriage from seeking the same benefits provided to other married veterans and their spouses. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- A law firm that is part of the challenge against California's Proposition 8 this week filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of a coalition of national veterans' service organizations asking the court to strike down laws discriminating against gay and lesbian veterans. [ Read more → ]

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) refusal to grant equal disability benefits to an Army veteran in a same-sex marriage is a violation of the veteran’s constitutional rights, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the law firm of WilmerHale. [ Read more → ]

Army Veteran Brian Carroll on Thursday announced his candidacy for the Colorado State House of Representatives, and is believe to be the first out Armed Forces Veteran in the country to officially file and run for office since the repeal of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" last month. [ Read more → ]