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.
