Biden extends pardons to gay veterans expelled from military – Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden has announced pardons for thousands of U.S. veterans who were expelled from the military due to their sexual orientation. The White House estimates that around 100,000 veterans have been affected. As of the last update, there hasn’t been an official statement from the White House stating that President Joe Biden has announced pardons specifically for thousands of U.S. veterans expelled due to their sexual orientation. Any such initiative would mark a significant policy change and reflect ongoing efforts to address past discriminatory practices within the military.
Historically, before the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2011, many service members were discharged due to their sexual orientation. Such actions have had long-term consequences for many veterans, including the loss of military benefits and honors.
If such pardons were announced, they would represent a significant step towards rectifying historical injustices faced by LGBTQ+ service members. It would also involve a review of the records of potentially tens of thousands of veterans to amend their discharge status, potentially restoring their access to veterans’ benefits and other entitlements.
For more detailed and current information, it’s advisable to check the latest reports directly from reliable sources or the White Twitter official channel.
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he is offering pardons for thousands of U.S. veterans expelled from the military based on their sexual orientation.
The White House estimates that roughly 100,000 gay service members were convicted and kicked out of the U.S. armed forces since World War II, pursuant to Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Of that group, 13,000 were expelled under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
“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,” the president wrote in a statement. “Our Nation’s service members stand on the front lines of freedom, and risk their lives in order to defend our country. 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.”
“This is about dignity, decency, and ensuring the culture of our Armed Forces reflect the values that make us an exceptional nation,” Biden continued. “We have a sacred obligation to all of our service members — including our brave LGBTQI+ service members: to properly prepare and equip them when they are sent into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they return home. Today we are making progress in that pursuit.”
The White House did not provide exact numbers for the people affected by Biden’s clemency, which comes during Pride Month, as the move requires veterans to apply for military approval to have their convictions wiped.
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A number of similar efforts to extend benefits and correct records of LGBT veterans have been undertaken since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was rolled back in 2011, but the administration said only 1 in 4 applicable veterans have taken advantage of those programs.
The administration added that the Department of Veterans Affairs and the White House are creating plans to reach out to veterans qualifying for Wednesday’s clemency announcement.
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