Thursday's decision follows two other major milestones for LGBTQ with regards to the military – in 2011, the "don't ask don't tell" policy was expelled, and in 2015, the Pentagon expanded the Defense Department's equal opportunity program.

Thursday's decision follows two other major milestones for LGBTQ with regards to the military – in 2011, the "don't ask don't tell" policy was expelled, and in 2015, the Pentagon expanded the Defense Department's equal opportunity program.