Governor Healey Applauds President Biden's Decision to Grant Clemency to Thousands of LGBTQ+ Veterans

Governor Healey Applauds President Biden's Decision to Grant Clemency to Thousands of LGBTQ+ Veterans:

Boston, MA -- Governor Maura Healey today applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon thousands of former U.S. service members convicted under the now-repealed Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which criminalized consensual gay sex. This law, in effect since 1951, was revised in 2013 to prohibit only forcible acts.

Veterans covered by the pardon can apply for proof of erased convictions, petition for upgraded military discharges, and recover lost pay and benefits.

“Discrimination has no place in our armed forces or our society,” said Governor Healey. “President Biden’s decision to right the wrongs of the past is an important act of justice and fairness for our LGBTQ+ veterans. Massachusetts is proud to lead the nation in ensuring equality and dignity and for all veterans, and we’ll continue our work to support our service members and their families.”

“Ensuring every veteran receives the proper status and respect they deserve is a top priority of the Executive Office of Veterans Services. The injustices faced by LGBTQ+ service members are a stain on our history that we are committed to erasing,” said Secretary Jon Santiago of the Executive Office of Veterans Services. “Massachusetts is leading the way when it comes to supporting our veterans and this initiative is a crucial step to healing past wounds and fostering a more inclusive military community.”

In September 2023, Governor Healey announced the creation of the Veterans Equality Review Board (VERB), the first state-level appointed board in the country that will allow veterans to apply for state benefits they were previously denied due to injustices under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

VERB reviews applications from veterans who believe they received “other than honorable discharges” due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The board also provides recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Services on granting state-based veterans benefits and ensures qualified veterans can access needed support.

In November, Governor Healey filed the HERO Act, which would expand the VERB board’s scope to include veterans dishonorably discharged due to any form of discrimination beyond DADT. The language to expand the scope of the board was included in both the House of Representatives and the Senate versions of the HERO Act.

For more information about the Veterans Equality Review Board, please visit the Executive Office of Veterans Services website.