4 hours ago
Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Launch Commission Investigating Anti-LGBTQ+ Military Policies
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On Tuesday, U.S. Representatives Mark Takano and Sara Jacobs, along with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, reintroduced the Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services Act to investigate the effects of anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the U.S. military. The bill coincides with the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s executive order reinstating a ban on transgender people serving in the military.
The proposed commission would be appointed by Congress and tasked with assessing the personal, professional, and health-related impacts of discriminatory policies on LGBTQ+ service members, veterans, and their dependents. It would specifically examine disparate effects on gender-nonconforming individuals, racial minorities, and women within the LGBTQ+ community. The panel would collect written and oral testimonies from affected LGBTQ+ service members and veterans to build a comprehensive record of harms.
Lawmakers highlighted historical injustices, noting that approximately 114,000 service members were discharged due to their sexual orientation between World War II and 2011 under policies including "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and its predecessor. An estimated 870,000 LGBTQ+ service members have faced hostility, harassment, assault, or law enforcement targeting from these policies, according to a press release from the bill's sponsors. Veterans discharged on discriminatory grounds often cannot access benefits they earned.
The commission's recommendations would address remedies such as official government apologies, compensation for those affected, reversal of discriminatory policies, expanded health care and benefits, streamlined discharge upgrades, and increased resources for diversity training at the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. It is modeled after the congressional commission that investigated the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which provided apologies and redress payments; Rep. Takano's family benefited from that process.
Rep. Takano stated, “Qualified service members were hunted down and forced to leave the military at the direction of our government. These practices have continued, now with our government targeting transgender service members. The forced separation and dishonorable discharges LGBTQ+ people received must be rectified, benefits fully granted, and dignity restored to those who have protected our freedoms.” Sen. Blumenthal added, “LGBTQ+ service members have long been the target of dangerous and discriminatory policies — resulting in harassment, involuntary discharge, and barriers to their earned benefits. Establishing this commission is an important step to understand the full scope of harm and address the damage caused by policies like ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell.’ As LGBTQ+ service members and veterans face repugnant and blatant bigotry under the Trump administration, we will keep fighting to secure a more equitable future for all who serve our country in uniform.” Rep. Jacobs remarked, “Instead of righting wrongs and making amends to our LGBTQ+ service members and veterans who’ve suffered injustices for decades, I’m ashamed that the Trump administration has doubled down: kicking trans folks out of the military and banning their enlistment. We know that LGBTQ+ service members and veterans have faced so much ugliness — discrimination, harassment, professional setbacks, and even violence — that has led to unjust discharges and disparities in benefits, but we still don’t have a full picture of all the harm caused. That needs to change.”
The bill enjoys support from organizations including Minority Veterans of America, Human Rights Campaign, Equality California, SPARTA, and Transgender American Veterans Association. These groups represent key LGBTQ+ perspectives, emphasizing the need for accountability amid ongoing challenges for transgender and other LGBTQ+ service members. Broader context includes 1,042 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents reported across 47 states and Washington, D.C., in 2025 by GLAAD's ALERT Desk, underscoring rising hostilities.
This reintroduction occurs against a backdrop of Trump administration actions, including executive orders targeting transgender rights in military and federal contexts, as tracked by advocacy groups. While the bill faces a Republican-controlled Congress, it signals continued Democratic efforts to address inequities for LGBTQ+ military personnel. A one-page summary and full text of the bill are available via congressional sources.
