A person may have been discharged other than honorably from the United States military due to the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; statements, consensual sexual conduct, or consensual acts relating to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; or the disclosure of statements, conduct, or acts that were prohibited by the armed services at the time of discharge. Because of the person's discharge status as other than honorable, the person does not qualify for certain Colorado state programs or benefits.
The bill establishes a discharged LGBT veteran status for the purposes of Colorado law. A person discharged for the reasons described above is eligible to be a discharged LGBT veteran. A person who received a dishonorable discharge from the United States military is not eligible to qualify as a discharged LGBT veteran.
Pursuant to a process established by the division of veterans affairs, the board of veterans affairs determines whether a person qualifies as a discharged LGBT veteran. This determination does not change the veteran's official character of discharge on the veteran's discharge paperwork, nor does it affect a person's eligibility for federal veterans programs or benefits.
The bill amends various existing state programs and benefits to make a discharged LGBT veteran eligible for those programs and benefits
Year
2021
Current status
- Became law (04/19/2021)