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.

  • JimSamtanko@lemm.ee
    32·
    6 months ago

    As long as you’re voting, this isn’t directed toward you. I get that people are upset. It’s upsetting what’s being done. But people need to know how upsetting it’s going to be if they don’t stop fucking around.

    This is serious. We’re in danger of losing our entire democracy.

      • JimSamtanko@lemm.ee
        31·
        6 months ago

        I never said everyone was. And there is no need for insults. But just because all aren’t, doesn’t mean some aren’t. And the fact you’re here trying to argue against this shows you’re not here in good faith.

        • Madison420@lemmy.world
          24·
          6 months ago

          You actually did when you claimed 6 unknown persons were bots without evidence or even their names. Ie. “I don’t know them but they’re bots because they have the opposite opinion I do”

          I never said bots don’t exist, I said you can’t in an evidence* vacuum just say someone is a bot and try to end the argument with that.

          Saying you’re acting stupid and calling you stupid are two separate things. I don’t think you’re stupid, I think you act stupidly but I do enjoy the multiple reports to the mod team so they remove my posts, fun way to “win” an argument.

          • JimSamtanko@lemm.ee
            11·
            6 months ago

            When you need to misquote people in order to have an argument….

            You don’t have an argument.

            And the reports are only for the purpose of ensuring we’re playing by the same rules. I don’t get to call you what I think you are- and you shouldn’t either.

            Additionally, lying about why your comments removed doesn’t really work when the mod logs show exactly what you said.

            We can be done here. You’re about as bad faith as it gets when you can’t argue without putting words into the mouths of others.