President Biden pardoned LGBTQ+ service members who were convicted of a crime under military law based on their sexual orientation on Wednesday, a move that is expected to affect thousands of service members who were convicted over the six decades that military law formally banned consensual homosexual conduct.
"Today, I am righting an historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves," the president said in a statement.
"Our nation's service members stand on the frontlines 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.
Eligible service members and veterans must apply for a certificate of pardon, which they can use to get their discharge status changed.
It's unclear why the president is only now pardoning LGBTQ+ service members, since he's had the opportunity to do so for nearly three and a half years.
LGBTQ+ service members and their families have had to fight for benefits from their discharges. »