For LGBTQ veterans, a settlement made on January 6 could mean a whole lot.

A class-action lawsuit was filed in August 2023 that included a detailed complaint with tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ service men and women, despite serving, not having access to any post-service benefits.

The initial reason for this issue dates back to the previous ban on gays and lesbians in the military and the Clinton Administration’s later 1993 policy, dubbed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Both banned troops from being open about their sexuality or transgender identity while in the service. Any violations of the policy, up to 2011 when President Obama officially ended the ban on openly LGBT service members, meant either an other-than honorable or a dishonorable discharge. Previously, having either qualifier on a veteran’s end-of-service record paperwork, called the DD-214, would have been an immediate disqualifier for any benefits after serving, like access to VA hospitals.

The Pentagon’s settlement with the case, to the relief of many queer veteran subjected to such punishments, aims to make not only upgrades to those record statuses, but to speed up the process for the almost 35,000 servicemen and women affected by it.

“This settlement is not just about correcting records; it’s about restoring the honor and pride that LGBTQ+ veterans have always deserved but were denied,” said Lilly Steffanides, a U.S. Navy veteran and plaintiff in the case. “I hope this brings justice to others who served with courage, only to face exclusion and discrimination.”

The settlement will allow veterans to have their records reviewed in large groups, delivering access to VA benefits and Honorable Discharge papers as early as Summer 2025.

“This proposed settlement delivers long-overdue justice to LGBTQ+ veterans who served our country with honor but were stripped of the dignity and recognition they rightfully earned due to discriminatory discharge policies,” said Jocelyn Larkin, an attorney on the plaintiffs’ legal team. “It marks a crucial step in addressing this deep-seated injustice and ensuring these veterans receive the acknowledgment and respect they have long been denied.”

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