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.

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.

  • InternetUser2012
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    5 days ago

    I wonder if the bots realize they’re really not helping their cause, at all.

    • JimSamtanko@lemm.ee
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      5 days ago

      A lot of them are trying to get Trump elected… so yeah, they’re helping a lot.

      • InternetUser2012
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        4 days ago

        It’s a pretty shitty take though since tRump is on record saying he would do more for a genocide.

          • InternetUser2012
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            3 days ago

            Bots aren’t MAGA, and MAGA doesn’t need advertised to to vote for the russian asset with 34 felonies.