Biden Pardons LGBTQ Veterans: Impact and Application Rates

Joining the military is a great honor, as you have the chance to serve the country. However, there are some controversies regarding gender discrimination within the organization—especially those who are being relieved due to their sexual orientation. In the past, the military did exclude those members of the LGBTQ community from service. It was not until 1993 that former President Bill Clinton signed a law known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which allowed lesbian, bisexual, and gay to serve as long as they did not reveal their orientation. Now, in a recent statement, President Biden has pardoned LGBTQ Veterans, and thousands are benefiting from it.

LGBTQ Veterans: Service Challenges and Discharges

Even though they are allowed to serve, they still need to hide their true identity. There are efforts to remove the ban on openly lesbian, bisexual, and gay people who are in service. However, these endeavors have been unsuccessful. In 2010, there was a ray of light when two federal courts ruled the prohibition of open members of LGBTQ personnel unconstitutional. During the last quarter of the same year, the Senate passed and President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 ending the restrictions to bisexual, gay, and lesbian personnel.In 2015, the RAND Corporation conducted a survey, and a total of 16,000 service members were respondents. They found out that 1.9% of males identified as gay and 2.0% as bisexual. 7.0% of females identified as lesbian, and 9.1% as bisexual. It seems that things are getting better for the community members since Biden pardons LGBTQ Veterans.

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President Biden's Pardons for Discharged LGBTQ Veterans

In a statement, the White House mentioned that thousands of Veteran members of the LGBTQ community will benefit from Biden's move. He issued a pardon to those service members who were compelled to be released from service due to their sexual orientation. However, the plan did not shatter any glass. This is because only eight Veterans applied for pardons three months after the announcement - two from the Army, six from the Air Force, and none from the Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy.This disappointed some advocates since Biden pardoned LGBTQ Veterans, which is another step to raise hopes and awareness for many Veterans who were denied benefits. It would contribute to losing the stigma of court-martial.

Despite this Historic Move, Few LGBTQ Veterans Apply For Pardons