The SERVE Act would extend Veterans Affairs benefits to former military members who were discharged solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. These individuals would become eligible for hospital and medical care, mental health counseling through Vet Centers, burial in national cemeteries, educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and VA-backed housing loans. The bill applies to those who received entry-level separations or discharges under honorable or other-than-honorable conditions related to sexual orientation or gender identity. The VA Secretary would be required to conduct outreach to inform eligible individuals and veteran service organizations about these new benefits, and must report to Congress within 15 months on how many people accessed the benefits and their demographic information.
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