(Boston – 9/20/2023) Fulfilling legislation authored by Senator Velis (D-Westfield) in the FY23 State Budget, Governor Healey officially swore in members of the Veterans’ Equality Review Board (VERB) on Wednesday to ensure that LGBTQ veterans discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell can receive state veteran benefits.
“Twelve years after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I am grateful that this Senate initiative is being fulfilled by the Administration and that this important Veterans’ Equality Review Board is now officially up and running,” said Senator Velis, who Chairs the Legislature’s Veterans Committee. “For far too long, thousands of courageous individuals have been told that they are not worthy of the same benefits that their comrades and counterparts earned. That their service, and their sacrifice, is not worth the same because of who they are and who they love. My legislation, and the work of this Board, is all about ensuring that LGBTQ Veterans across the Commonwealth have the same access to benefits and services that other Veterans have.”
“LGBTQ Veterans that were discharged under the now defunct, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, served their country proudly and are every bit as entitled to state Veteran benefits as any other service member. We are grateful to Senator Velis for his recognition of their service and his leadership in ensuring that their sacrifice will be honored by restoring the benefits that they rightfully earned,” said Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director of MassEquality.
The Department of Defense’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual persons from military service from 1994 until 2011. During those 17 years, more than 14,000 service members were forced out of the military. Because these service members did not receive an honorable discharge, they and their families are not eligible for many veteran benefits.
In the Fall of 2021, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued new guidance that Veterans discharged under the policy are eligible for federal benefits. In the Senate’s FY23 Budget the following Spring, Senator Velis filed amendment #799 to codify that any veteran that received an “other than honorable” discharge under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would also be eligible for Massachusetts state veteran benefits. That amendment was unanimously adopted by the Senate and included in the final FY23 Budget that Governor Baker signed in July of 2022.
Under the legislation, the State was directed to establish a Veterans’ Equality Review Board to process applications from any veteran who believes their discharge under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Decisions must be made by the board within 40 days of receiving the application and once confirmed, veterans will be eligible to receive Massachusetts veterans’ benefits including Chapter 115 Financial Aid, Property Tax Exemptions, Tuition Waivers, Veteran Annuities, License Plate and ID Designations, and Care at Massachusetts Veterans’ Homes.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell represents a truly dark point in the history of our military and our nation. The belief that having an LGBTQ service member would somehow keep our military from functioning, negatively impact combat readiness, and compromise its mission is unfathomable,” said Senator Velis, who is also a Veteran himself and a current member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. “The tragic truth is that so many service members are still feeling the effects of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to this day, and many of them call Massachusetts their home. These veterans wore the same uniform as us, they served and fought alongside us, and they deserve to be taken care of the same way as the rest of us. It is time for our Commonwealth to do right by them and the legislation ensures that we do.”
Veterans can submit applications to the Review Board at: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/veterans-equality-review-board
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