The Hill
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” dischargees to receive full back pay from Pentagon
“This means so much to those of us who dedicated ourselves to the military, only to be forced out against our will for being who we are,” former Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Collins said in a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit.
Under “Don’t ask,” service members who were honorably discharged automatically had their separation pay cut in half.
The ACLU of New Mexico sued the Pentagon on behalf of 181 service members who were dismissed under the policy to recover their full pay. Each solider, sailor, airman and Marine in the case will receive, on average, a payout of $13,000, the ACLU said.
The Defense Department will pay a total of $2.4 million to the plaintiffs.
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Well isn’t this special? It’s the spending spending spending, bho, not taxing the daylights outta people!
L
letget on January 8, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Wait a minute. So they went against the UCMJ but now since DADT no longer exists (and I”m glad it doesn’t), they get treated like they got an honorable discharge and get full pay back?
Does that mean that if pot is made legal, and is also at some point made legal under the UCMJ, that those who were kicked out due to popping positive for pot will get their discharged changed to “honorable” and get back pay?
DethMetalCookieMonst on January 8, 2013 at 2:44 PM
It’s only money.
AcidReflux on January 8, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Apparently, taking it up the rear does pay off.
trs on January 8, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Pot maybe as it is the “in” drug.
CW on January 8, 2013 at 2:46 PM
I can see it now…
“Drug Adicts/Alcoholics Kicked Out of Military for Drugs/Alcholic Antics to Receive Full Back Pay if They Were Born Drug Addicts/Alcoholics”
Don’t believe me? Ever hear/read about how some people are born alocholics/drug addicts and have a trigger of sorts?
DethMetalCookieMonst on January 8, 2013 at 2:46 PM
You knew this was coming and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. They broke the rules at the time. Rules they agreed to. You don’t get compensation just because the rules are later changed. This is a VERY BAD precedent to set.
Rocks on January 8, 2013 at 2:47 PM
But Obama is nice and “fair”.
CW on January 8, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Reparations for Everyone!!!
portlandon on January 8, 2013 at 2:52 PM
B***s***. It’s not about who you are, but about what you do.
Paul-Cincy on January 8, 2013 at 2:56 PM
No. It doesn’t change the status of the discharge. It restores their severance pay to the full amount as these people were all originally honorably discharged under DADT.
lexhamfox on January 8, 2013 at 3:04 PM
I bet there’s a lot of guys who served who wished they kissed in front of an officer before being sent to a combat zone.
Daemonocracy on January 8, 2013 at 3:05 PM
No, because the Pentagon will have no problem defending such lawsuits in court.
This is evidence that gay military members will most certainly be receiving special treatment in the military. Commanding officers and detailers will overcompensate to ensure that they are not accused of discriminating. Military public affairs officers will work with the media to push stories about the first openly gay generals, fighter pilots, and ship captains.
blink on January 8, 2013 at 3:06 PM
But to be fair……
CW on January 8, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Had me worried for a moment. I thought they were talking about paying them for like years of service they did not perform…
astonerii on January 8, 2013 at 3:22 PM
only 181 servicemembers got tied up in the DADT policy? I find that hard to believe… Just watching the TV, you’d think upwards of 90% of the population is something other than straight. Go figure.
gatorboy on January 8, 2013 at 3:26 PM
sounds like steam escaping.
tom daschle concerned on January 8, 2013 at 3:27 PM
They violated the UCMJ and belong in Leavenworth, if not the firing squad.
No wonder why the Muslims don’t take out military seriously. It is infested with f@gs!
Seven Seas on January 8, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Let the sodomy jokes commence.
Paul-Cincy on January 8, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Good.
mythicknight on January 8, 2013 at 4:58 PM
They knew the rules, so why exactly should they be given back pay?
tom on January 8, 2013 at 8:23 PM