Newsom vowed to pardon LGBTQ Californians. Only one living person has benefited

Three years after Gov. The governor launched the LGBTQ California Clemency Initiative in February 2020 and vowed to eradicate “historic homophobia” in the criminal justice system by offering pardons to people “subjected to discriminatory arrest and prosecution.” The program focuses on charges such as vagrancy, loitering and sodomy that were used to target LGBTQ people and may remain on their criminal records decades later. “People are still alive in California impacted by these laws, and seeing more of these pardons take place would really impact tremendously the life of someone, regardless of their age, and how they are accepted and reintroduced back into the community.” Newsom — who made his name as a gay rights champion when he issued same-sex marriage licenses as mayor of San Francisco before it was legal — urged Californians to apply three years ago. Gardon encouraged people who have been prosecuted for lawful conduct because of their LGBTQ status to apply for pardons “or other legal remedies.” “The governor’s office welcomes further input from advocacy groups and others on this effort,” Gardon said. Symbolic relief is not nothing.” In response to activists’ calls for commutations, Newsom’s spokesperson said that LGBTQ people in prison can apply for commutations “to redress unjust legal outcomes” in their cases.