Biden pardons thousands of US veterans convicted under law banning gay sex
Biden pardons thousands of US veterans convicted under law banning gay sex
President corrects ‘great injustice’ with clemency for military personnel ‘convicted simply for being themselves’
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.
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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.
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Edited: I wrote a longer rest response but I feel like my long responses will distract from the main topic of the thread. So I'll put some in spoiler text, remove the rest, and that's all I'll say on that. This an emotional topic and can go on forever I'm sure.
It won't happen if the liberals pressure him enough. That's the thing. He's already made some concessions in rhetoric scared of the changing narrative. We can have both Biden and a stop to a genocide with enough public pressure. The election isn't until November. I don't believe a genocide is the only choice as long as we live in a democracy, can build a movement, and he's a rational candidate (which I think he is).
Btw it's not just principles.
People are fucking dying right now dude. It's going to affect the Middle East, millions of refugees will head to surrounding countries, and then it will affect Europe. They will probably turn more fascist as a result, just like from their current immigration crises from Syria and Africa. Plus, now Israel is trying to start wars with Lebanon and Iran, and drag us into WIII. Plus it's causing shipping problems in Yemen. Not to mention the Israeli Super PAC that funds conservative politicians that we allow to run rampant in our country for some reason. It goes on and on. This stuff does affect us whether you like it or not.
In addition, this is a huge escalation over previous decades. It's another nakba. Almost the whole population is pressed South against Egypt right now. Northern Gaza won't be habitable for decades. It can't get much worse. It's too close for them to nuke, and they've taken out most of the hospitals and seem to have triggered a catastrophic famine. They're killing so fast, they're already looking to start another war before they finish this ethnic cleansing campaign so Netanyahu can stay in office.
And still vote, I'm not saying don't do that. I will. I'm just saying I get why other people complain about him. I'm sure they'll still vote down ballot, and would even vote for him if he changed tact on Israel.
I get that Project 2025 is scary, but so is Project 2029, and 3033. We shouldn't have to accept that we'll be an evil empire forever, always choosing between two flavors of genocidal maniac, forever cursed to enact horrible terrors on the international stage, awaiting the inevitable drop into fascism. We can use this moment to get the President to stop bowing to a foreign state that's been troublesome to us for decades. Even Reagan had to smack Israel down.. He's been slowly improving, and I get why other people would use this moment where a possibly sway-able Democratic President is in the office and has a looming election as leverage.