Washington, Jun 26 (EFE).- US President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a pardon for veterans convicted under a military law that banned gay sex.
“Despite their courage and great sacrifice, thousands of LGBTQI+ service members were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” the US leader said in a White House statement.
“Today, I am righting a historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves,” Biden said.
As Commander in Chief, Biden has expressed his commitment to ensuring that the US military remains the best in the world, which means making sure that all service members are safe and respected so they can focus on their mission.
The president and re-election candidate pointed out that it is a matter of dignity and decency and of ensuring that the culture of the Armed Forces reflects the values that make the United States an exceptional nation.
CNN specified that to change their records under the pardon, affected individuals must complete an online application that will be sent to their military service department.
That office will then review the individual’s court-martial and service history and determine whether the person is eligible for pardon. This decision will be forwarded to the Attorney General.
Although it is not clear how long the process will take, this action will provide veterans with benefits that may have previously been denied.
Biden’s measure grants a pardon to service members convicted under Article 125 of the old Uniform Code of Military Justice, which went into effect in 1951, penalized sodomy, and was rewritten in 2013 to only ban forced relationships.
Sodomy was prohibited among US military personnel, even if consensual until former President Barack Obama decriminalized same-sex relationships through the National Defense Authorization Act about a decade ago. EFE
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