Photo: Members OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Boston on March 15, 2015.
U.S. President Joe Biden issues a proclamation pardoning military veterans convicted of homosexual acts consensual, which were prohibited in the US military until 2013.
The Biden administration estimates that the pardons will affect thousands of former military personnel who were convicted of sexual relations.
Those who have to this right, will be able to request proof of expungement of a criminal record, change their discharge status from the armed forces and gain access to benefits that they were deprived of due to a criminal record, reports “Voice” of America.
” ;Despite their courage and enormous sacrifice, thousands of LGBTQ+ service members have been forced to leave the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,"– noted in Biden's proclamation.
Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice made sodomy illegal. The law, in effect since 1951, was repealed in 2013 when it was amended to criminalize only violent acts.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the president named veterans punished under the law. by this law, “unjustly convicted.”
Prepared by: Sergey Daga