Staff Reports
President Joe Biden, in his latest attempt to appease the ever-growing alphabet soup of interest groups, has announced mass pardons for thousands of U.S. veterans expelled from the military based on their sexual orientation. It seems that the current Commander-in-Chief is keen to rewrite the history books, pushing for a kumbaya moment by using his clemency powers.
According to the White House, roughly 100,000 gay service members were given the boot from the U.S. armed forces since World War II under Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Thirteen thousand of those were shown the door thanks to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Biden has labeled these actions a historic wrong, treating these pardons like some grand gesture of justice.
The president’s statement reads like a Hallmark card, lauding the courage and sacrifices of LGBTQI+ service members. Biden’s assertion claims that this move is about dignity and decency, as if previous administrations had been sending America into battle with a band of bigots. His emphasis on creating an Armed Forces culture that reflects some nebulous “values” of the nation seems more like a diversion from actual pressing issues, such as tightening national security or ensuring military readiness.
Notably, the White House remains vague on the exact number of folks Biden’s clemency will affect. It’s all about grand gestures during Pride Month, but there’s no clarity on how many veterans will actually benefit without jumping through hoops. Veterans will need to apply for military approval to have their convictions wiped, which could be another bureaucratic nightmare.
Efforts to extend benefits and correct records for LGBT veterans aren’t new, having been in motion since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed back in 2011. Yet, according to the administration, only 25% of applicable veterans have even bothered with these programs. Now, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the White House are concocting plans to outreach to veterans who qualify for this latest move. One has to wonder if this new endeavor will bear any more fruit or if it’s just another political stunt aimed at ticking off identity politics boxes.
