Introduced
September 17, 2026
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Smith, Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
RESOLUTION
Recognizing September 20, 2026, as “National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day”.
- (1) recognizes September 20, 2026, as “National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day”;
- (2) celebrates the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this resolution as “LGBTQ+”) servicemembers and veterans who have served in the Armed Forces;
- (3) regrets the harm done to LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and earlier policies, bans on transgender servicemembers, and other policies that discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity;
- (4) recognizes how “other than honorable” and “dishonorable” discharges given to LGBTQ+ servicemembers on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity—
- (A) prematurely terminated the careers of LGBTQ+ servicemembers in the Armed Forces;