Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed legislation (S.45B/A.8097) enacting The Restoration of Honor Act, giving LGBTQ veterans who were denied an honorable discharge because of their sexual orientation or gender identity the right to apply to have their New York state veterans’ benefits restored.

Under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and similar policies, hundreds of thousands of veterans received less than honorable discharges. As a result of that those individuals are ineligible for veterans’ benefits. Military discharge decisions can only be formally changed by the federal government, the Restoration of Honor Act allows veterans to apply to claim their New York state benefits.

The bill also restores benefits eligibility for veterans who received less than honorable discharges as a result of military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This makes New York the first state in the nation to restore the benefits of veterans who received less than honorable discharges either because of these traumas or because of their LGBTQ identity.

The legislation passed the state Assembly unanimously.