If you’ve been around circles of older gay men you likely know at least one person who received a dishonorable discharge from the military related to gay sex. Under the now-repealed Article 125 of the UCMJ, those who were caught engaging in certain behaviors were often court marshaled, exited from the military without benefits and sometimes worse.
The code which was in existence from 1951 to 2013 led to thousands of service personnel being dishonorably discharged and sent out into society with it on their record. This affected the ability to get certain jobs or work on some careers but worse prevented these veterans from receiving important benefits like medical coverage and G.I. Bill benefits like VA housing assistance.
In June, President Biden issued a proclamation which issued full pardons for a vast majority of those who had been convicted under Article 125. He then set forth a process for affected veterans to apply for a certificate of pardon and begin a process to restore their status to an honorable discharge.
This is a move that may have come to late for many who’s lives were affected and for those who have since passed away. For those still alive, a process is required to restore full pardon and honorable discharge status. It’s not automatic. A DOD web page has been launched for those seeking to apply for a certificate of pardon with explanation of the process.
There are some people who will not be eligible for a pardon however. Where non-consent or other crimes were present in the acts and certain other conditions exist some cases may not qualify.
I personally know a number men who were exited from the military with a dishonorable discharge for being caught “fraternizing” as recent as the 1980s and early 1990s before “don’t ask don’t tell” was initiated. This is a landmark move that can enable them to restore important VA benefit access and other financial assistance programs which were promised to them when they signed up to join the military in the first place.
It is a righting of a wrong, though it did take too long to come. Its timing is convenient of course during Pride Month in an election year. In the big picture it’s the right thing and shows that while President Biden is getting scary old and questions about his ability to lead have come on strong of late, he is doing the right things for humanity.
I recommend if you are in this class and are eligible for the full pardon and restoration of your status that you had better get to it now before anything changes. If there is a change in administration going into 2025, you want to have gotten your process started well before that happens.
Good luck men!
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