LGBT+ veterans left in limbo after government payment pledge
Until the year 2000, being
LGBT+ in the British military
was a crime. Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender personnel were dismissed, interrogated, and in some cases, criminalised simply for being themselves.
In 2023, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak
formally apologised
in parliament, calling the ban 'appalling treatment'.
Following years of campaigning by charity Fighting with Pride and others, the government announced in 2024 that affected veterans could apply for fast-tracked payments of up to £70,000 to correct a historical wrong. But seven months later, over a thousand claimants are still waiting for payments.
Pam was discharged at 22 after her girlfriend was found in her room. She told me: 'I signed up to do 22 years. I loved it. But I was just cut off. Couldn't even call myself a veteran.'
She described a terrifying dawn raid: 'It was 6am. Military police banging on the door. They interrogated me with disgusting questions, trashed my room, tore down posters, and searched everything.'
The trauma is clear: 'I wanted to take my own life. I had nowhere to go. They just booted me out. No train ticket, no nothing.'
Campaigners hoped the government's 2024 payment scheme would bring closure. But instead, many feel abandoned.
'It's very slow,' Pam said. 'We've had the apology. We've had the veterans' badge. What more do they need to prove we were dishonourably discharged? They said 18 weeks. We're well past that now. Press the button and get us paid.'
David Bonney, a former RAF medic, was the last person jailed in the UK for being gay in the armed forces. In 1994, he was imprisoned after military police found a copy of Gay Times in his room.
David was spied on, harassed, and isolated. 'They watched outside gay bars, interviewed my friends, even listened in on calls to my mum. One time I came back and found an envelope of dog shit in my room.'
'About 20 people started beating me. I ended up in the medical centre.'
– David Bonney
He also endured violent assaults during solitary confinement and later in prison. 'About 20 people started beating me. I ended up in the medical centre.'
The Ministry of Defence declined an interview but said in a statement:
'We understand veterans' frustrations with application processing times. The UK Government has increased dedicated staff by adding a further five workers…. to accelerate application reviews and process payments more quickly.….'
While the veterans we spoke to appreciate the apology and recognition, many now feel words alone are no longer enough.
UK has moved 'million miles' on LGBT rights but must be fought for says Chris Bryant MP
Apology proves 'we were right and they were wrong' over LGBT military ban, says former airman
Sunak apologises over 'horrific' LGBT military ban
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