Just over a week ago Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stated:

As we mark the twelfth anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I want to recognize the service members, DoD civilians, and DoD families who served courageously and forged new pathways for future generations of our Force.

At the same time a CBS exclusive Reports that: Before the repeal of the ban, tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ service members were forced out of the military "under other than honorable conditions," rather than with an honorable discharge…. To help ease that burden, the Defense Department plans to conduct a review of veterans' records who served under "don't ask, don't tell" for a possible recommendation of a discharge upgrade. This means that these veterans would not have to apply for the upgrade themselves, a process that both veterans and experts have said is often unsuccessful without the help of a lawyer. The department is also launching a website ... with resources dedicated to LGBTQ+ veterans who believe they were wrongfully discharged for their sexuality.