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
    11·
    5 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.