A federal judge has approved a class-action settlement between the Defense Department and LGBTQ veterans who were discharged due to their sexual orientation under “don’t ask, don’t tell” and similar policies. This settlement could potentially impact over 35,000 veterans who were discharged between 1980 and 2011 for reasons related to homosexuality. The lawsuit was filed by a group of veterans who argued that “don’t ask, don’t tell” violated their constitutional rights. Those who received less than honorable discharges face challenges accessing benefits such as medical care and a pension. The settlement allows these veterans to request reviews and upgrades to honorable discharges, and those with honorable discharges can have references to their sexual orientation removed. The Defense Department must create a streamlined process for veterans to request these changes, with information expected to be available by mid-August. This settlement coincides with ongoing debates over President Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, which was reinstated through an executive order in January. Overall, the settlement represents a step towards addressing the injustices faced by LGBTQ veterans who were discharged due to their sexual orientation.
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