Judge approves settlement for discharged LGBTQ veterans

A federal judge approved a settlement between the Pentagon and LGBTQ veterans discharged under past policies, including "don't ask, don't tell." This affects over 35,000 veterans discharged from 1980 to 2011 due to their sexual orientation. The settlement allows veterans with less than honorable discharges to request an upgrade to honorable status. Those with honorable discharges can remove references to their sexual orientation from their discharge forms. The Defense Department must create a streamlined process for these requests by mid-August. Veterans will have three years to apply for new discharge forms once the process is established.