WASHINGTON,
D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee (SASC) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Senator
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led the introduction of a Senate resolution that
acknowledges and apologizes for the mistreatment of and discrimination against
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) individuals who have served our
nation as civil servants or members of the Armed Forces and Foreign Service.
The resolution also reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to treat all
military service members, veterans, foreign service employees, federal civil
service employees, and contractors with equal respect and fairness, regardless
of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Throughout
our history, far too many people serving our nation have lived in fear of
retribution or persecution because of their sexual orientation,” said
Senator Kaine. “It’s time to acknowledge the harm caused to these
Americans, their families, and our country by depriving them of the right to
serve as federal civil servants, diplomats, or in the Armed Services. I’m proud
to introduce this Senate resolution during Pride Month to reaffirm our nation’s
commitment to treat everyone, including LGBT Americans, with equal respect and
fairness. I will continue working toward advancing equality for all LGBT people
in Virginia and across our nation.”
“This
Senate resolution takes a stand on the side of respect for LBGT Americans who
have served our nation, and reaffirms our commitment to treat all public
servants with fairness and equality, regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity,” said Senator Baldwin. “As we celebrate Pride Month, I
take great pride in being a part of this effort to move our county forward as
we join together with a shared commitment to the idea that with each passing
day, and each passing year, America should become more equal, not less.”
Despite
hundreds of thousands of LGBT service members having honorably served the
United States in uniform, with many fighting and dying in wars around the
globe, the federal government maintained decades-long policies explicitly
barring these Americans from government and military service. For example, in
1949, the Department of Defense decreed that “homosexual personnel,
irrespective of sex, should not be permitted to serve in any branch of the
Armed Forces in any capacity and prompt separation of known homosexuals from
the Armed Forces is mandatory.” Historians have estimated that at least 100,000
service members were forced out of the Armed Forces between World War II and
2011 simply for being LGBT, while countless others were forced to hide their
identities and live in fear while serving. In addition, more than 1,000 State
Department employees were dismissed due to their alleged sexual orientation,
and many more were prevented from joining due to discriminatory hiring
practices. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued an executive
order defining “perversion” as a national security threat and mandating that
every civilian employee and contractor pass a security clearance, which known
LGBT people would fail because of so-called “perversion.”
Further,
the Senate conducted hearings during the 1950s that defamed LGBT federal
employees and heightened persecution of these patriotic public servants.
The
resolution is also co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard
Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ),
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jacky Rosen
(D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), and
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD).
full resolution can be viewed here.
