Pentagon Sued Over DADT Separation Pay

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon over a policy that cuts separation pay in half for service members who have been honorably discharged because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

According to The Washington Post, the ACLU suit represents former Air Force staff sergeant Richard Collins, who wants to receive the same separation pay as other service members forced to leave.

"At issue is a Defense Department policy that cuts in half the separation pay of service members who have been honorably discharged for being gay after at least six years of service," reports the Post. "The policy began in 1991, two years before the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was formalized, and could be changed without Congressional approval."

Collins was honorably discharged in 2006 after nine years of service for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He received $12,351 in separation pay while he expected to receive $25,702.