25 years after ‘gay ban’ ruled illegal, it’s time to pay compensation for the careers and lives wrecked.
Today Wednesday 23 October LGBT military charity Fighting With Pride will deliver an ‘Open Letter’ to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Downing Street, in a remarkable moment of solidarity between LGBT, Veterans and older people charities.
The letter, signed by the Chief Executives of the UK’s largest LGBT and veterans charities calls for the Government to look again at the compensation to make sure that the long promised financial reparations bring justice to those who lost careers and pensions; were subjected to military police interrogations; prison; intimate personal examinations and forcibly outed to friends and family during the ‘gay ban’ which existed until 2000.
Of the 49 recommendations made by Lord Etherton in the government commissioned LGBT Veterans Independent Review, compensation is the only recommendation not yet agreed.
The first recommendation in the report was that an apology should be made on behalf of the British people. In a packed House of Commons on 19th July 2023. Mr Sunak said:
“The ban on LGBT people serving in our Armed Forces until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the British state decades behind the law of this land. In that period many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment, all while bravely serving this country. Today on behalf of the British state, I apologise.”
In a recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO) it was reported that the Ministry of Defence assesses that up to 4000 veterans may be eligible for compensation. Based on the government figures, the £50 million currently proposed for the reparations fund would mean average payments of just £12,500.
The coalition of organisations supporting Fighting With Pride’s campaign does not believe that this is an appropriate level of reparations for the harms caused.
LGBT military charity Fighting With Pride calls for swift action. Leader of the campaign and Royal Navy veteran Craig Jones MBE said:
‘The funding intended for this scheme is inadequate and fails to take account of the shocking treatment inflicted upon a community of veterans who defended our peace and freedom but were treated in a way which the Prime Minister said had brought dishonour on our nation. This is the moment for the government to do the right thing.’
‘We are aware that Veterans Minister, Al Carns is working hard to find greater funding for this scheme, but more must be done to achieve payments that bring a sense of justice for LGBT Veterans affected by this awful policy. We must not miss the opportunity to extend the modern values of the armed forces to Veterans who were shamed for decades. ‘
James Needham, Chief Executive of military charity Help for Heroes said:
‘LGBT+ veterans, both before and immediately after the lifting of the ban in 2000, experienced an almost unique set of injuries due to this discriminatory policy, including wrongful imprisonment, loss of careers and pensions, and exclusion from the veteran community.’
‘While progress has been made since then, we are concerned by the proposed compensation. Based on the government’s estimates, veterans affected by the ban would receive an average payment of just £12,500, which isn’t enough to make up for the damage done to their lives.’
‘We’re also disappointed that a promised debate in Parliament may not happen before the compensation scheme starts, which would be a missed opportunity for MPs to discuss and ensure fairness for those impacted.’
