A local lawmaker is touting a bill approved in the House last week. Bethel State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan says the Act Redefining "Veteran" and Establishing a Qualified Condition Review Board will provide state benefits to veterans who were less-than-honorably discharged due solely to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. He notes that estimates found over 100,000 American veterans received less-than-honorable discharges from the service for their sexual orientation between World War II and the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell". He says all those who served deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and deserve the benefits they earned. He commended Steve Kennedy with the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of American Connecticut Chapter and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Tom Saadi among others for their work on this bill.