I never set out to sue the U.S. government.
As a U.S. Navy veteran, I have always been proud of my country and my service, but I also feel tremendous disappointment. This is because, as a lesbian, I was unjustly discharged under the government’s policy prohibiting people from honorably serving in the military depending of their sexual orientation.
Sept. 20 marked the 12th anniversary of the repeal of that discriminatory law, known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT). For nearly two decades, DADT forced me and my fellow LGBTQ+ service members to conceal our true selves, living in fear of discrimination, harassment and discharge if our sexual orientation was discovered.
Now, 12 years on from the repeal, the government still has not taken the necessary actions to make things right for those of us who were wrongfully discharged under DADT and similar earlier policies.
While last week’s commitment from the Department of Defense to restore lost benefits afforded to service members is a welcome step in the right direction, the government’s work is far from over.
According to new figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, more than 35,000 people were discharged from the military based on sexual orientation between 1980 and 2011; the vast majority (nearly 30,000) received a discharge status that was less than “Honorable.” These discharges often resulted in veterans being denied the honor, recognition and benefits they deserve for their service. In addition to the downgrade in status, those of us who were wrongfully discharged under DADT received discharge forms, DD-214s, that disclose our sexual orientation as the reason for discharge.
My DD-214 designates my discharge as “Other Than Honorable” and lists “homosexuality” as the reason. Coming from a family with a proud tradition of distinguished military service going back generations, it pains me to have my service characterized in this way. I have always been proud of my country and proud of who I am; having an “Other Than Honorable” discharge status makes me feel like my service to my country is not valued. And to have my sexual orientation disclosed is a cruel reminder of my expulsion from military service.
For veterans like me, these DD-214 forms have caused significant and lasting harm — not just in painting our service as less honorable but, for many, in creating barriers to accessing important benefits available to other veterans. These include vital services such as health care, funding for higher education, home loan financing and job benefits — all of which require proof of an “Honorable” discharge.
In Texas, veterans are eligible for free “veteran” designations on their driver’s licenses if their DD-214 identifies that they received an “Honorable” discharge. However, as a longtime proud resident of Texas, it is tremendously disappointing that I am unable to obtain this same designation simply because the U.S. government has not upgraded my discharge status. Even after 37 years, I am hopeful that I will one day have my DD-214 updated. When I do, I’m going to frame both DD-214s and hang them up, because I want everyone to know that I was willing to serve and die for my country, regardless of who I love.
In August 2023, along with four other veterans, I filed a nationwide class action lawsuit, Farrell v. United States Department of Defense. The case seeks to hold the government accountable for its wrongs and restore honor to the many thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans who have been affected by the government’s discriminatory policies. I filed this case because I want to upgrade my discharge status to “Honorable” and receive a DD-214 that reflects my service to the country and does not disclose my sexual orientation. But even more than that: I want to serve my fellow veterans, particularly the LGBTQ+ veterans, all of whom deserve to have a DD-214 that reflects the honor of their service.
I now have an opportunity to serve my country by standing up for my fellow Americans who were discharged because of their sexual orientation. The government has the power to fix the discharge paperwork for those of us discharged due to sexual orientation. It is well past time to do so.
Sherrill Farrell is a U.S. Navy Veteran who enlisted in the Navy in 1985 and served for less than one year before being discharged because of her sexual orientation. Farrell is a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit brought by a group of LGBTQ+ veterans against the U.S. Department of Defense over ongoing discrimination perpetuated by their discharge papers.