The Defense Department agreed to a class-action settlement that could impact more than 35,000 LGBTQ veterans who were discharged due to their sexual orientation under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The settlement allows veterans with less than honorable discharges to have their status reviewed and potentially upgraded to honorable. It also grants veterans with honorable discharges the opportunity to remove mentions of their sexual orientation from their discharge forms.
Having a less than honorable discharge can disqualify veterans from vital benefits, while having a discharge form that mentions sexual orientation can lead to discrimination in various situations. The lawsuit, filed by a group of veterans in 2023, alleges that policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell” violated their constitutional rights and caused lasting harm. The Pentagon had previously reviewed cases of 851 veterans discharged due to sexual orientation, upgrading over 800 of them to honorable status.
One of the plaintiffs, Lilly Steffanides, a Navy veteran discharged in 1988 for being gay, faced discrimination and homelessness as a result of their discharge. After years of struggles, they were able to obtain benefits with the help of a pro bono attorney. Steffanides expressed gratitude for the settlement, as it will allow them to reclaim their narrative and move past the discrimination they faced due to their sexual orientation. They are now an active veterans advocate, providing support to LGBTQ veterans and engaging in community service.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
