A group of LGBTQ veterans who sued the Department of Defense for denying them honorable discharges due to their sexuality announced a settlement on Monday. Pending federal approval, the agreement simplifies the process for removing discriminatory references from discharge paperwork, benefiting veterans dismissed under “don’t ask, don’t tell” and related policies.
The settlement stems from a class-action lawsuit filed last year by five former service members, representing over 30,000 veterans. Plaintiffs argued their discharges violated constitutional rights, depriving them of benefits like VA loans and college assistance. A federal judge allowed the case to proceed in June, citing “discriminatory intent” in maintaining LGBTQ-related notations in records.
Named plaintiff Lilly Steffanides called the settlement “a step toward restoring honor and pride” to affected veterans. The Pentagon has recently made strides to address past discrimination, including upgrading hundreds of discharges and offering VA benefits to those dismissed under the repealed policy.
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