Biden Announces Mass Pardon for 2,000 Veterans Convicted Under Gay Sex Ban

Jun 26, 2024, 09:03 AM

President Joe Biden has announced a mass pardon for U.S. military veterans convicted under a now-repealed military law that banned gay sex. The pardons will impact roughly 2,000 veterans who were convicted over a 60-year period from 1951 to 2013. Biden stated on Tuesday that this action is aimed at 'righting an historic wrong' and addressing the injustices faced by LGBTQ+ service members. The law, which was part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), criminalized consensual same-sex relations among military personnel. This move is seen as a significant step towards acknowledging and rectifying past discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the armed forces. The law was part of a Cold War-era purge of gay and lesbian people.