Joe Biden has moved to correct a “great injustice” by pardoning thousands of US veterans convicted over six decades under a military law that banned gay sex.

The presidential proclamation, which comes during Pride month and an election year, allows LGBTQ+ service members convicted of crimes based solely on their sexual orientation to apply for a certificate of pardon that will help them receive withheld benefits.

It grants clemency to service members convicted under Uniform Code of Military Justice article 125 – which criminalised sodomy, including between consenting adults – between 1951 and 2013, when it was rewritten by Congress.

That includes victims of the 1950s “lavender scare”, a witch-hunt in which many LGBTQ+ people employed by the federal government were viewed as security risks amid fears their sexual orientation made them vulnerable to blackmail. Thousands were investigated and fired or denied employment.

      • banana_lama@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        Thousands. There was a point in time last year or whenever where that number was 100 or 1000 or even 1.

        Could’ve pardoned that person then.

    • banana_lama@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      I don’t disagree. But I’m pretty sure this was intended to be done on the election year. Don’t get me wrong, I will not vote for the orange fuzz ball with a gun to my head. But this could’ve been done earlier in his term