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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) | ||||||
| 3 | veterans have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces | ||||||
| 4 | throughout the nation's history; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, LGBTQ+ veterans have faced numerous | ||||||
| 6 | discriminatory policies, including the ban on open service, | ||||||
| 7 | and policies such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that forced them | ||||||
| 8 | to hide their identities; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, Historical policies such as Executive Order 10450 | ||||||
| 10 | and subsequent military regulations discriminated against | ||||||
| 11 | LGBTQ+ individuals, labeling them as security risks or unfit | ||||||
| 12 | for service due to their sexual orientation or gender | ||||||
| 13 | identity; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, These policies led to the discharge and exclusion | ||||||
| 15 | of LGBTQ+ servicemembers, denying them the recognition and | ||||||
| 16 | benefits they deserved and causing lasting harm; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, On September 20, 2011, the "Don't Ask, Don't | ||||||
| 18 | Tell" policy was officially repealed, allowing gay, lesbian, | ||||||
| 19 | and bisexual individuals to serve openly in the U.S. military; | ||||||
| 20 | and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, The Department of Defense and the Department of | ||||||
| 2 | Veterans Affairs have begun to address the injustices faced by | ||||||
| 3 | LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans, including discharge | ||||||
| 4 | upgrades; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Ongoing challenges remain for LGBTQ+ | ||||||
| 6 | servicemembers and veterans in achieving equitable treatment | ||||||
| 7 | and access to benefits, including healthcare services such as | ||||||
| 8 | gender-affirming care; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, LGBTQ+ Veterans Day celebrates the contributions | ||||||
| 10 | and sacrifices of LGBTQ+ veterans, acknowledges the continued | ||||||
| 11 | need for progress in ensuring their rights and recognition, | ||||||
| 12 | and serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and | ||||||
| 13 | equality in all aspects of military and civilian life and as a | ||||||
| 14 | call to action for further outreach and support for LGBTQ+ | ||||||
| 15 | veterans; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 16 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 17 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 18 | we declare September 20, 2024 as LGBTQ+ Veterans Day in the | ||||||
| 19 | State of Illinois to honor and celebrate the courage, | ||||||
| 20 | commitment, and service of LGBTQ+ veterans and to acknowledge | ||||||
| 21 | the historical and ongoing challenges they face. | ||||||