Sunday, December 10, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2023
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2023
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

County legislators introduce Restoration of Honor Act to restore benefits to LGBT veterans discharged before repeal of DADT

Ali Hibbs by Ali Hibbs
November 11, 2016
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read

According to state and county legislators, an estimated 114,000 service members were discharged from the U.S. military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity between World War II and the 2011 repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. This has left them without more than 50 state programs, benefits and tax breaks that are contingent on a veteran’s discharge status.

Legislation to restore those benefits in New York, introduced last November by State Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-27), has languished in the committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs since January. Federally, a bill introduced four months earlier by Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and co-sponsored by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand anlgbt-vet-memoriald Chuck Schumer of New York has been stalled in the Senate Committee on Armed Services since the day it was introduced. Similar legislation, introduced by Gillibrand in 2013, which sought to ensure benefits for same-sex spouses, was reintroduced in early 2015 but never made it to the floor for a vote.

In Albany County, a handful of legislators have decided not to wait any longer for the state and federal government to act and are working to ensure that LGBT veterans are at least able to access county-level benefits. 

Legislators Andrew Joyce (D-9), Lynne Lekakis (D-8), Bryan Clenahan (D-30), Raymond Joyce (D-13), Allison McLean Lane (D-14), Gary Domalewicz (D-10), Christopher Higgins (D-5), Douglas Bullock (D-7) and Joanne Cunningham (D-34) have introduced a measure that would outline a process for any LGBT veteran who was discharged due to their sexual orientation to begin receiving benefits available to honorably discharged veterans in Albany County. These benefits include a property tax exemption, civil service points and the opportunity to participate in the county’s Return the Favor discount program.

“I’ve served side-by-side with LGBT veterans in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and even Staten Island during Superstorm Sandy,” said Andrew Joyce, lead sponsor of the bill. “We’ve come a long way in our society towards equality, and it’s time our policies reflected that.”

According to Joyce, the legislation would ensure that any veteran whose discharge under or before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was classified as less than honorable due solely to their sexual orientation or gender identity are not impeded from receiving county benefits for which they would otherwise be eligible. Any LGBT veteran who was other than honorably discharged from the military are encouraged to provide, in writing, the details surrounding the nature of their discharge to the staff at the Albany County Veteran’s Services Bureau. The bureau would review their case, and based on the information provided, would make a determination on their eligibility.

“The DADT policy was sanctioned discrimination” said McLean-Lane. “They have fought to preserve our freedoms, including freedom from discrimination. Now, we are obligated to fight for them.” 

Anyone interested in learning more information about the treatment of LGBT service members under and prior to DADT can access Hoylman’s 2015 Restoration of Honor report at the state Senate website.

“For over two centuries, the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members in the United States military was one of repression, deception, and fear,” reads the introduction. “For the vast majority of our nation’s history, patriotic service members willing to risk their lives in service of their country faced everything from criminal penalties to an unceremonious discharge solely due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

 

Tags: Albany County LegislatureLGBTveterans
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Nine Pin Cider to hold its 3rd annual Pressing Party tomorrow, Nov. 12

Next Post

HOT SPOT: Laurie Berkner in Troy

Leave Comment
Spotlight News

Spotlight News is a division of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2023 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2023
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949