President Biden's Pardon of Veterans Convicted for Being Gay
President Biden pardoned veterans who were convicted and forced out of the military for being gay under a former law banning gay sex, extending clemency to thousands of former service members affected from the 1950s to 2013.
Key Points
- President Biden pardoned veterans convicted under a former law banning gay sex
- Thousands of former service members affected by the law from the 1950s to 2013 will receive clemency
- At least 32,837 LGBTQ service members were forced out of the military under 'don't ask, don't tell' policy
- Separate from ongoing DOD review of LGBTQ+ veterans forced out of service
Pros
- Rectifying historic injustice
- Offering clemency to former service members affected by discriminatory law
Cons
- Does not automatically change recipients' criminal record