Why UK gay ban veterans kept on fighting for justice

BBC News

07-03-2025

A veteran who was one of many forced to resign from the armed forces because he was gay says campaigners have won the "final fight" over compensation. Adrian Radford-Shute, who lives in north Cornwall, served in the British Army Intelligence Corps until he was dismissed in 1996 because of his sexuality.After decades of campaigning, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) was launched in December.A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said the government "deeply regretted the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000" and said those asked to resign were now able to apply to the scheme.
'Tremendously affected'
It was illegal to be gay in the British military until 2000 - with thousands of veterans thought to be affected. Mr Radford-Shute said he had been mentally and personally "tremendously affected over the years".He said: "I suffer from PTSD because of what happened to me during my service and because I was thrown out unceremoniously, and the lack of care and support that was provided. "But also because of the tremendous amount of campaigning we then had to do."A report from Lord Etherton in 2023 led to the launch of a compensation scheme in December last year.Applications opened for LGBT veterans, who were dismissed or discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to receive £50,000 compensation.This also applies to officers instructed to retire or resign.The government has said additional payments of up to £20,000 will also be available for those negatively impacted by the ban on LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000.This compensation is aimed at those who suffered harassment, invasive investigations and those who were sent to prison.The exact amount of additional compensation will be decided by an independent panel.
Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said he had "wanted clarity" over whether officers forced to resign could potentially claim more than lower-ranking veterans who had the same treatment. He said letters from MoD officials to Mr Radford-Shute and himself had reassured him."We're satisfied now nobody will be left behind. It was so important to me to make sure there will be no more excuses, no more loopholes, no more delays to make sure those veterans who fought for our country get the compensation they deserve -regardless of rank," he said.
A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson said the government "deeply regretted the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000".They said: "This was wholly wrong, completely unacceptable and does not reflect today's armed forces."Individuals who were dismissed or administratively discharged – and officers who were instructed to retire or resign by their service board – can apply for the Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) Dismissed or Discharged Payment."The MoD said it acknowledged "individuals of other ranks may have been put under pressure to resign but this was not part of a formal administrative process".
'Let down'
And it confirmed that "paragraph 9.414 in the Queen's Regulations 1975 is a 'Services No Longer Required' administrative discharge", so veterans this applies to "are able to apply for the FRS Dismissed or Discharged Payment".Mr Radford-Shute said he welcomed this clarification over the scheme as "the last battle, the last fight for LGBT veterans to receive full and fair compensation".However, he said veterans also felt "let down"."The amount of compensation is so extraordinarily low when you look at the sums involved. Postmasters are being offered around £800,000 and we believe we should have been offered the same amount."The government said the £75m available was significantly above the level recommended in the Etherton Review.The scheme will run for two years.