Posted on 02/14/2018 8:28:34 AM PST by Salman
A California woman kicked out of the military 60 years ago for being a lesbian has finally had her rights restored.
In 1955, Airman Second Class Helen Grace James was targeted and investigated by Air Force officials for her sexuality, part of a massive effort to remove gay and lesbian service members known as the "Lavender Scare."
Now, at 90, and living in California, James filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month against the U.S. Air Force seeking to upgrade her "undesirable" discharge to "honorable."
This week, James's attorney received word the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records has agreed to change her status. "The Board has decided to upgrade Helen's discharge status to Honorable," James's attorney, J. Cacilia Kim, told The Washington Post.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I don’t have any problem with this. If her service was “honorable” but the military standards in place said no homosexuality in the ranks then give her an honorable.
This statement is not to be construed or misinterpreted or twisted or lied about to say I am supporting homosexuality in the military. Thank you, see the mods to validate your ticket.
Can you imagine the legal mayhem we would have today if slaves and slave owners from the pre-civil-war days were still alive?
It’s good that people die at a faster rate than the culture changes, but that is changing.
The NORKs quieted down quite a bit, so it’s now back to regular military business as usual.
My family never owed slaves we rented with an option to buy
Well said.
Will everyone given a DD for being a Communist during the Red Scare be upgraded? She was given a DD because she lied on her enlistment application.
They probably figured “Feh, she’s 90, she won’t collect Vet benefits for very long, and we don’t want the PR blowback from saying no.”
But did you have to take my mother out for a test-drive?
I sure miss the 50s.
;)
Some privates that got into trouble in my unit were told to take a General Discharge, then write their Congressman when they get home and it could be changed.
I would rate being an active “communist” differently. As to the lie on her enlistment application. That was wrong and should be punished. Living 62 years with an undesirable discharge is punishment. Time served.
Yeah, that makes sense. Crazy.
I’ll respectfully disagree.
I think I’ll leave lesbian discharges for somebody else. Like maybe the janitors.
This country is toast.
Yes found out her rear end made noise that way
You weren’t the first.
Or last neither.
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