blue discharge blue discharge known blue ticket form administrative military discharge issued united_states beginning honorable blue ticket discharge choice commanders seeking remove homosexual service members ranks issued african americans service members holding blue discharge subjected discrimination civilian life denied benefits bill difficulty finding work employers aware negative blue discharge following intense criticism press especially black press high percentage african americans received blue congress blue discharge discontinued replaced new classifications general undesirable history blue discharge created replace previous discharge classifications administrative discharge honor discharge printed blue paper called blue tickets early use blue discharge service members enlisted fight world war practice abolished law upgraded honorable association homosexuality united_states military long standing policy service members found homosexual engaged homosexual conduct court imprisoned discharged troops following entry world war impractical court martial boards commissioned officers commanders began issuing administrative instead waves reform addressing handling military resulted policy directive called committed military hospitals examined discharged regulation section unfit service unknown exactly gay lesbian service members given blue regulation army estimated issued blue approximately issued navy estimates blue discharge period time covered estimates unclear responsible creating implementing screening procedures exclude military service initially supported giving gay service members blue learned difficulties blue ticket holders faced civilian life urged military practice served director surgeon general united_states_army tried persuade military issue honorable gay service members committed crimes military service press account said purpose administrative blue based habits traits individual continuation service undesirable need return soldiers civilian life quickly possible non disabled soldier nation economic life little delay red tape possible help solve personal problems unemployment educational opportunities finances discrimination charged implementing provisions bill denied benefits blue discharge veterans despite bill explicit language discharge grounds denying benefits veteran issued directive blue homosexuality denied benefits december district denied appeal denied benefits blue discharge court found discretion awarding benefits congress specifically courts court noted denial benefits occurred discharged administrator acting authority treating blue discharge employers required job applicants served military present discharge papers application process blue discharge veterans experienced difficulty securing employment employers aware blue discharge meant holder considered undesirable employers know access list spin numbers military classify spin numbers indicated gay related discharge congress expressed concern possible blue discharge began work discussions legislation details insisted specific provision provide benefits veterans discharged legion believed large number veterans given blue honorable reasons considered trivial testimony united states senate strongly opposed provision grounds undermine morale remove incentive maintain good service record senator sponsor bill dismissed concerns calling stupid short sighted objections raised clark went army giving blue honor fault shown sufficient military service government drafts man civil life puts military service man sufficient gives blue discharge discharge honor fact permitted prevent man receiving benefits soldiers generally entitled bill provided discharge review boards review appeal discharge early boards routinely upgraded honorable blue homosexual service members committed known sex acts military service blue reviewed upgraded honorable black press crusade minority group issued blue african americans blue issued army december june issued african americans blue time african americans constituted army october black interest newspaper launched crusade discharge abuses calling discharge vicious instrument american soldier army allowing officers use means negro soldiers like specifically conditions specifically noted discrimination faced homosexual blue tickets calling nation preyed blue discharge demanded know army chooses need army benefits opportunity better citizens educational benefits bill rights printed instructions appeal blue discharge warned readers accepting blue ticket service negative effect likely lives addition groups institutions use blue discharge included chairman colorado read editorial record october noting blue discharge meant veteran convicted separated military able defend said ought twilight zone innocence guilt blue certain congress blue response reports disparate treatment blue ticket veterans appointed special committee review procedures committee headed issued report officially called investigations national war effort commonly known blue january committee expressed blue discharge risk speaking discrimination borne mind moderate complaint matter sort significant person complaint case implies feels sense injustice great willing risk stigma having discharged army circumstances disgrace feel sense injustice prefer bury hurt possible examining case histories blue discharge veterans committee found procedure based prejudice committee found effects blue discharge differ little discharge discharged man finds difficult job suspicion society aroused worse ways carrying atmosphere mystery report said clearly prove nature blue discharge policy committee called system dealing blue ticket veterans squeeze play war department veterans administration took agency task assuming right separate sheep goats passing moral history soldier reform discharge system committee recommended automatic review blue army required demonstrate multiple attempts service member issuing blue discharge right counsel service members given blue discharge provided military private counsel copies procedural regulations blue discharge process provided request discharge specify quality service state committee recommended changing discharge system classifications honorable change definitions honorable conditions replace blue discharge general cover separation misconduct aftermath despite committee report continued homosexual blue tickets directive blue discontinued july new general undesirable took place general discharge considered honorable conditions distinct honorable discharge undesirable discharge conditions honorable distinct discharge time army changed regulations ensure gay lesbian service members qualify general found guilty engaging homosexual conduct received identified committed homosexual acts received undesirable 1970s service member committed homosexual acts tend receive general discharge found engaged homosexual sex tended receive undesirable gay service members continued receive percentage undesirable issued status quo replaced policy commonly known don ask don tell suggested large gay populations port cities like san_francisco chicago new_york_city result blue discharge theory asserts gay blue ticket veterans smaller urban rural areas felt unable return home communities shame associated relocated larger areas established gay simply stayed city returned united_states
Blue discharge