By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-07 18:13:16 | Updated at 2025-01-08 18:06:57
23 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // The Pentagon agreed Monday to a legal settlement with thousands of gay and lesbian veterans who were dismissed from military service without honorable discharges because of their sexual orientation.
CBS News reported that the Jan. 6 settlement allows the dismissed same-sex attracted veterans to be quickly issued updated dismissal paperwork that does not reference their sexuality. It also allows them to submit their discharges for an upgrade review, potentially resulting in the late reception of an honorable discharge.
The dismissals occurred years ago under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which forbade openly same-sex attracted individuals from serving in the military. President Obama signed an act repealing the policy in 2010, and the repeal went into effect in 2011.
A coalition of same-sex attracted veterans sued the U.S. Department of Defense in 2023, claiming that the military has done nothing to rectify the alleged discrimination shown to gay or lesbian military members.
“The class action lawsuit, which was brought in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims the Pentagon’s failure to correct this ‘ongoing discrimination’ represents a violation of constitutional rights,” CBS News reported.
According to the outlet, the current status of the veterans’ discharges means that they don’t receive all the usual veteran benefits, which can include VA loan programs, health care, and more.
The veterans’ settlement with the Pentagon must be approved by a federal judge. If confirmed, it would allow veterans to begin updating their paperwork and dismissals in a smooth process that circumvents the usual lengthy and difficult procedure.
According to CBS News, the Pentagon had previously hoped to finish 90% of all reviews and updates in 10 months, but the lawsuit claimed the process placed a “burden” on the veterans and took months or years to be completed.
CBS News reported that Elizabeth Kristen, a senior staff attorney at the law firm that helped file the suit, said the settlement would deliver “long-overdue justice” to the same-sex attracted veterans who were not allowed to receive honorable discharges.
She added, “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.”
