They’re doing it because they want to.
(Via Americablog): We reported yesterday on the fact that the Obama administration was back in court defending a discriminatory anti-gay policy in which they're docking the pay of some gay service members kicked out under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," to the tune of 50% of their retirement. Why are they docking their pay? "For homosexuality," according to the Pentagon.
Yes, they're cutting the retirement benefits of gay service members explicitly because they're gay.
Yesterday I caught some flak from the usual suspects who didn't think this story was true, and/or who thought DOD's hand were tied by legislation that required them to dock the retirement pay of DADT victims...From the ACLU:
Congress made a judgment that military personnel who serve their country for at least six years and are honorably discharged should get separation pay. The Department of Defense decided to cut that separation pay in half for any service member who is discharged for "homosexuality." The ACLU has filed a class action lawsuit challenging that discriminatory internal policy of the Department of Defense as unconstitutional. The separation-pay policy is not part of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Department can change it immediately without waiting for congressional approval.
http://gay.americablog.com/2011/05/obama-not-required-by-law-to-dock-gay.html