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Consider the following, service members discharged before 1993 for homosexuality are still fighting for discharge upgrades. Before the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", service members who were found to have engaged in homosexual conduct were likely to receive discharges that were less than honorable. One must understand the major strike a "less than honorable discharge" has on a service member. The ramifications are far reaching. "An Other That Honorable (OTH) is the most severe form of administrative discharge. This type of discharge represents a departure from the conduct and performance expected of all military members. This type of discharge deprives one of substantially all rights administered by the Veteran's Administration and the Department of Defense. It would have a negative impact on the ability of an individual to obtain future employment, and may act as a bar on obtaining jobs in federal, state and local government. Persons awarded an OTH characterization of service: are not entitled to retain their uniforms or wear them home (although they may be furnished civilian clothing at a cost of not more than $50); must accept transportation in kind to their homes; are subject to recoupment of any reenlistment bonus they may have received; are not eligible for notice of discharge to employers (which may affect unemployment benefits); and, do not receive mileage fees from the place of discharge to their home of record."2 .
This severe classification pushes the veteran for the rest of his/her life to discrimination for employment outside the military and often means forfeiture of benefits such as health care, VA home loans, tuition assistance, and the ceremonial burial rite at military cemeteries. This discrimination results not only in tangible consequences but also in the intangible such as homelessness and a myriad of mental health issues that go untreated because of a lack of care-quite the social issue.
