Press Releases
02/22/2016
Gov. Malloy Proposes Updates to Anti-Discrimination Laws at the Conn. Military Department
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has submitted legislation to the Connecticut General Assembly that will update the anti-discrimination statutes for the Connecticut Military Department to align them with recent policy changes in the United States military.
"The changes that we are proposing are straightforward - they're about basic equity. They're not only the right thing to do, they also align with federal rules as to who can participate in military roles," Governor Malloy explained. "Simply put, this legislation will further protect residents who want to serve, regardless of their beliefs or background. Placing archaic, artificial boundaries on the ability to serve, protect our freedoms, and defend our nation is backward. These are long overdue changes. I applaud the federal government for taking this step toward equality. Now, we in Connecticut must do the same."
Unlike other state agencies, current anti-discrimination laws for the Connecticut Military Department only include race, religion, and creed. Governor Malloy's proposed legislation will modify these laws to expand the anti-discrimination guidelines into those statutes to include the following:
- Religion
- National origin
- Color
- Race
- Sex
- Gender identity or expression
- Sexual orientation
"These are important changes that modernize Connecticut's Military Department to reflect a broader and more inclusive public policy," Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. "I applaud Governor Malloy's proposal and commitment to ending discrimination."
"Governor Malloy's proposal aligns the state law concerning nondiscrimination in Connecticut's Armed Forces with federal law and policies of the U.S. Armed Forces," Major General Thaddeus J. Martin, Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard, said. "His initiative to propose these changes at the state level during a time when we are seeing major shifts in policy at the national level is an important step in the fight against discrimination."
Governor Malloy previously enacted important legislation along similar lines. In 2013, he signed legislation in response to the federal government's elimination of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy that prohibited homosexuals from openly serving in the Armed Forces. That bill restored state benefits for military veterans who had been previously denied federal benefits based solely on his or her sexual orientation.
The Connecticut Military Department has oversight over the Connecticut Army National Guard, the Connecticut Air National guard, and four companies of the state militia. It augments state and local civil authorities in case of emergencies beyond their capabilities and provides assistance to local areas through community service programs. The National Guard also performs its federal mission as the primary augmenter to the active federal military forces.
The legislation is Senate Bill 21, An Act Concerning the Military Department's Nondiscrimination Laws. It has been referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for consideration.
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