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.

  • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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    5 days ago

    Very frustrating to see Presidents implement these policies out of desperation in the middle of a tight election season rather than rolling them out ASAP.

    given biden’s history; i’m convinced that this was the only reason why he did it.

    • InternetUser2012@midwest.social
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      5 days ago

      Hmmm, what voters are going to jump and vote for Biden over this that already weren’t voting for Biden? Anyone at this point voting for Mr. 34 felonies is going to vote for him regardless. He’s gotten people killed with his incompetence, he’s a rapist, he paid for sex with a porn star while his pregnant wife was at home, and well, we could do this for literally weeks. If that isn’t a deterrent, I’m sure this isn’t going to magically get anyone to walk away from the cult and cast a vote for the adult in the election.