Biden Pardons LGBTQ Veterans Convicted Under Outdated Military Laws

The move follows a recent court ruling allowing a lawsuit against the Department of Defense over discriminatory discharges to proceed.

The pardons apply to veterans convicted of sodomy between 1951 and 2013 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Veterans must apply for a certificate of pardon to restore their military benefits.
A recent court ruling allows LGBTQ veterans to sue the Department of Defense to upgrade their discharges to honorable.
The lawsuit argues that the discharge process for LGBTQ veterans is burdensome and discriminatory.
Over 35,000 service members were discharged for homosexual behavior between 1980 and 2011.