Despite that the ban on gay troops ended more than a decade ago, a surprisingly small fraction of the tens of thousands of vets affected have accessed benefits they are due.

The Pentagon has now agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that may change that for about 35,000 veterans.

“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.”

Steffanides told NPR in 2023 that the stigma of being suddenly “outed” to their family in 1988, led to years of addiction and homelessness. Having an “other-than honorable” discharge meant no automatic access to VA benefits or health care. It’s a scarlet letter when employers ask about military service; many veterans would deny they ever served rather than reveal paperwork that showed they were kicked out for homosexual activity.

In 2011, after a long campaign by LGBTQ veterans and activists, the Obama administration ended the ban. In the years since, the integration of gay and lesbian troops has been heralded as a huge success with no effects on unit cohesion or combat readiness, according to the Pentagon. But the plaintiffs in the lawsuit say the lingering stigma and a mountain of red tape kept many veterans from even applying to upgrade their military discharge status and get the benefits they had earned.

The Pentagon announced a proactive review of discharges under “don’t ask, don’t tell” — the 1993 Clinton administration policy that banned troops from being open about their sexuality — last October, but this proposed settlement agreed to Monday will speed up that process considerably if approved by California’s Northern District Court. Instead of individual applications, 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 this summer.

“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. 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,” said Jocelyn Larkin, an attorney on the plaintiffs’ legal team.

The Pentagon referred questions to the Department of Justice, which declined NPR’s request for comment.

Copyright 2025 NPR

South Carolina continues to show dominance aftter defeating Mississippi State to earn its 14 win of the season.

Sophomore Tessa Johnson led the way for the Gamecocks offensively with 22 points, hitting 4/6 from beyond the arc, and adding two assists. Johnson’s four made threes tied her career high and helped South Carolina take the lead against the Bulldogs.

Chloe Kitts earned her fourth double-double of the year positng 17 points and 10 rebounds, adding four assists. Raven Johnson got it done on both sides of the court scoring nine points, dishing out five assists, grabbing five rebounds, and tying a career-high with five steals.

This is the Gamecocks’ eighth straight victory since losing to top ranked UCLA on November 24. The win over the Bulldogs is the 49th straight regualr season SEC win, extending it’s SEC record.

South Carolina’s next game will come against the 9-6 Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday January 9 at 5:00 pm (ET).

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Associated Press

South Carolina State Bulldogs (1-16, 0-1 MEAC) at Coppin State Eagles (10-7, 1-0 MEAC)

Baltimore; Monday, 5:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina State visits Coppin State after Angie Juste-Jean scored 25 points in South Carolina State’s 55-54 loss to the Morgan State Bears.

The Eagles have gone 5-0 in home games. Coppin State has a 4-0 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Bulldogs have gone 0-1 against MEAC opponents. South Carolina State ranks eighth in the MEAC with 7.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Justice Tramble averaging 1.9.

Coppin State’s average of 6.1 made 3-pointers per game is 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 7.2 per game South Carolina State allows. South Carolina State averages 50.0 points per game, 16.2 fewer points than the 66.2 Coppin State gives up.

The matchup Monday is the first meeting this season between the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Laila Lawrence is averaging 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals for the Eagles.

Tramble is averaging 4.6 points for the Bulldogs.

LAST 10 GAMES: Eagles: 6-4, averaging 63.3 points, 32.4 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 37.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.2 points per game.

Bulldogs: 0-10, averaging 51.4 points, 26.9 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 39.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.7 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.