Pentagon sued for failing to correct discrimination after DADT repeal

Plaintiffs allege thousands still face consequences of discriminatory policy

By CHRISTOPHER KANE | ckane@washblade.com

A lawsuit filed on Aug. 7 by a group of LGBTQ veterans seeks to address the U.S. Department of Defense’s failure to grant honorable discharges to service members who were fired before the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2011.

The five plaintiffs, all of whom were kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation, also want the agency to remedy other manifestations of this “ongoing discrimination,” including biased language in the discharge papers of LGBTQ veterans.

Their class action complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, notes that the federal government has made significant overtures to recognize and condemn “the decades of discriminatory policies it enforced against LGBTQ+ veterans.”

However, the lawsuit argues, the plaintiffs — along with “thousands of others who were involuntarily discharged un-

LGBTQ Hawaiians need help

Maui wildfire has killed at least 100 people

By BRODY LEVESQUE

The devastation of the wildfires that impacted the island of Maui is most evident in the city of Lahaina. The death toll has pushed past 100 people and is expected to rise in the coming weeks as recovery efforts continue.

In a statement to media outlets, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said “in the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.”

Maui County estimates more than 80 percent of the more than 2,700 structures in the town were damaged or destroyed and 4,500 residents are newly in need of shelter.

There are numerous critical needs for the residents who have been displaced, many living in temporary shelters. Randy M. Soriano, the executive director of Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation, Honolulu Pride and the LGBTQ Center Honolulu on the island of Oahu is asking for assistance.

“Mahalo for checking in. It has been a devastating week for the entire state of Hawai’i. Our hearts go out to those who have experienced such a tremendous loss. Our organization is located on the island of Oahu so we’re fortunate to not have been directly affected but we’re trying to activate as much aid as possible,” Soriano wrote in a Facebook post.

“Below I’ve included information on local partners that are collecting donations for those in Maui,” he noted: www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong

“The Maui Strong Fund is providing resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery for the devastating wildfires on Maui.

HCF will not be collecting a fee for donations to the Maui Strong Fund; 100 percent of the funds will be distributed for community needs.

Please consult the following links for more information. If you still have questions, contact Donor Services at donorservices@hcf-hawaii.org or (808) 566-5560.

Our hearts go out to our Maui ‘ohana. Please donate to one of our trusted partners, hawaiiancouncil.org/ maui and hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong.”

On the Big Island of Hawai’i the Prizma Hawaiʻi LGBTQ+ Center wrote:

Notice and Request for Volunteers: Prizma Hawaiʻi LGBTQ+ Center and Hawai’i Island LGBTQ+ Pride will partner to participate in the “Hawaiʻi County Task Force for Maui Recovery Assistance.”

“Please share any upcoming details that we will be posting with our Island Ohana so we can help Maui during their recovery.

We are asking for volunteers to help be at the Prizma Hawaiʻi LGBTQ+ Center to accept donations during the times of 5 p.m. -8 p.m. throughout the week and week- der anti-LGBTQ+ policies — continue to combat the effects of this discrimination.”

Discharge papers, known as DD-214s, are required to access veterans’ benefits and apply for jobs, loans, and apartments.

A Department of Defense spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

News of the lawsuit was first reported on television Tuesday by CBS News, which has investigated the Pentagon’s failure to amend the service records of veterans who were dishonorably discharged because of their sexual orientation.

CBS found that “more than 29,000 individuals kicked out because of their sexuality were denied honorable discharges.” end times from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. Please message our page or contact Beverly Tese to help fill in spots. Any other non-profits that would like to partner please reach out as well. We will post a calendar of dates and times very soon.

Thank you for supporting us to help Maui, Prizma Hawaiʻi LGBTQ+ Center Committee.”

Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Maui United Way are accepting online monetary donations to benefit Maui residents affected by fires.

The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation started a Maui Strong Fund to support residents affected by the wildfires: www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong. Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund at www.mauiunitedway.org/ disasterrelief.

People trying to locate loved ones who may be impacted by the fires can call the American Red Cross hotline at 1-800-733-2767.