Biden grants clemency to 16 nonviolent drug offenders
CBSApr 11
Biden Grants Clemency for Dishonorably Discharged LGBTQ Veterans
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The Facts
US Pres. Joe Biden is set to pardon former military members who were convicted and dishonorably discharged under the now-defunct Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which criminalized sodomy in the military.
Article 125 was established in 1951 before the military issued its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 1993, which allowed LGBTQ people to serve more easily as long as they didn't reveal their sexuality. Congress then allowed openly LGBTQ troops to serve in 2011.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This long overdue policy should be welcomed by all who support US soldiers and veterans. Thanks to the blatantly homophobic laws of the 20th and early 21st centuries, thousands of brave soldiers were legally discriminated against, had their service records tarnished, and were deprived of veterans' benefits. To return honor and dignity to these heroes as quickly as possible, military officials should work to expedite these pardons.
Republican narrative
Given the state of decline of today's military, debates over past policies are irrelevant. Woke military policies have resulted in the lowering of physical fitness requirements and prioritized radical left agendas over the operational readiness of the armed forces. There's nothing wrong with promoting a more traditional culture within the US military and, especially, prioritizing the role of the armed forces to uphold the national security of the United States.