President corrects ‘great injustice’ with clemency for military personnel ‘convicted simply for being themselves’

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.

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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
    813·
    6 months ago

    We’ve decided your sexuality is scandalous, forcing you to hide it, which makes you at risk of being blackmailed, so we’re charging you with a crime.” Fucking despicable.

    part of me wants to forgive biden’s votes & support of those laws (eg dont ask dont tell; defense of marriage; executive order 10450); but seeing as how the everyone on social media (especially the lemmyverse) already refuse to believe he did those things makes me feel like i have a duty to remember since they fucked with my life and so many other’s lives’ so severely; along with the other fucked up things he did that social media has already chosen to forget about.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
      133·
      6 months ago

      He also had racist views the 70s. This is simply proof of growth.

      Also, the line you quoted was regarding the Lavender Scare. That was 20 years before his time.

      • eldavi@lemmy.ml
        615·
        6 months ago

        he also switched sides back then on that topic too when it was no longer politically popular.

        he’s not a leader nor is it growth (he was proud of appeasing segregationists during his campaign and kamala had to put him in his place); he’s a politician that does whatever it takes to get votes.

        • DAMunzy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          48·
          6 months ago

          Shh, let them have this. They need their team to be the saviors. Look how they trot out Jack Black like a clown. And now trickle out some good news a bit before the elections.

          They’re just gonna plug their ears and yell.

          • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
            52·
            6 months ago

            No one is calling Democrats saviors. They just enact more legislation that benefits people and planet while Republicans support corporations and Christianity. Feel free to pick whatever side is more compelling to you.