Despite the armed forces claiming to offer relocation help to servicemembers facing racial and LGBTQ+ discrimination, the service branches – apart from the Air Force – have not tracked family relocations, Military.com reported.
The military began offering resources, support, and relocations to help families escape discrimination in 2022, amid a rise of anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the country. There are almost 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S., according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Since 2021, the Air Force has recorded 15 relocations under such circumstances – letting families move before the end of a standard posting term – but declined to share additional details.
"Examples of relocation ETP denials are very rare, but when they occur, can be attributed to delays of mandatory clearance for dependents (including medical) and/or delay of travel documents for overseas assignments," the Air Force said. "We do not normally release relocation details due to the risk of personal identification of these families."
As for the other branches, discrimination-based relocation options are not heavily advertised, instead opting to rely on existing policies to accommodate troops. And in general, the services have been nigh silent on the extent to which help is offered to families.
"There's no transparency," said Jennifer Dane, an LGBTQ+ advocate and an Air Force veteran who was one of the last to be investigated under the Pentagon's old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "There just needs to be more transparency across all branches."
And not being clear on the purpose of programs and failing to advertise can lead to confusion, said Michelle Norman, founder of military family nonprofit Partners in PROMISE.
