Australia finally clears gay veterans of historic military convictions
Australia is allowing LGBTQ+ veterans to erase historic military convictions for consensual same-sex activity as the government prepares a formal apology.
LGBTQ+ veterans in Australia can finally apply to have historic military convictions for consensual same-sex activity removed from their service records.
The new scheme opened on 6 October and addresses convictions handed to Australian Defence Force personnel under discriminatory rules that remained in place until 1992.
Convictions can finally be extinguished
For decades, gay and lesbian personnel could face investigation and punishment simply because of consensual relationships that would not be considered criminal today.
Eligible current and former service personnel can now apply for those convictions to be extinguished. Where an application succeeds, the historical offence will no longer appear on the individual's Defence service record.
The change follows recommendations examining the treatment of LGBTIQA+ people in Australia's military and the lasting impact of discriminatory policies.
Australia's government has also committed to issuing a formal apology later this year to serving personnel and veterans harmed by historic discrimination.
The scheme cannot undo the careers, relationships or years affected by those policies, but removing convictions has considerable symbolic and practical importance. Veterans who served their country will no longer have a service record marking consensual same-sex relationships as wrongdoing.
Applications are open now, with information available through Australia's Department of Defence.
Images: Australian Department of Defence.
