Pentagon Settles Lawsuit with LGBTQ Veterans over Discharge Status
A significant win for LGBTQ military veterans has been announced by the Pentagon. In response to a class action lawsuit filed by veterans affected by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies, the Pentagon has agreed to upgrade the discharge records of 35,000 veterans to “honorable” status.
One of the plaintiffs, Lily Steffanides, expressed relief at the decision, stating that it felt like a weight had been lifted off her after being tied to her discharge status for 30 years. Previously, the records of LGBTQ veterans were marked as “other than honorable,” but now they will be upgraded to “honorable” status, allowing them to access the benefits they deserve.
Thousands of veterans who served under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy were unable to access their benefits, but this settlement is expected to pave the way for them to finally receive the support they are entitled to. This groundbreaking decision marks a significant step towards justice for LGBTQ veterans.
