YAKIMA, Wash.-President Biden issued a pardon on June 26 for what could potentially be thousands of ex-military members that were convicted of violating the now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex.
Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice had been on the books since 1951, however, it was rewritten in 2013 to prohibit only forcible sexual acts.
Yakima Pride applauded the pardons from President Biden and released the following statement via social media on June 26.
“Our Nation has made tremendous progress in advancing the cause of equality for LGBTQI+ Americans, including in the military. 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. Many of these patriotic Americans were subject to a court-martial. While my Administration has taken meaningful action to remedy these problems, the impact of that historical injustice remains. As Commander in Chief, I am committed to maintaining the finest fighting force in the world. That means making sure that every member of our military feels safe and respected.”
