Latest news with #FightingwithPride
Channel 4
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
LGBT+ veterans left in limbo after government payment pledge
Warning: this article contains references to homophobic abuse and distressing content. 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
Powys County Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Financial redress for LGBT veterans must be sped up, MPs to urge ministers
Ministers must ensure all LGBT veterans who suffered historical mistreatment in the armed forces get compensation swiftly, MPs are to warn in a parliamentary debate. A group of MPs will push for the redress scheme for veterans who suffered under the so-called 'gay ban' to be rolled out as quickly as possible. LGBT people in the military were abused, assaulted, and dishonourably discharged without pay, and went on to suffer lifelong consequences when their sexuality was discovered in the pre-2000 era. The £75 million redress scheme set up in December offers payments of up to £70,000 to each veteran to 'acknowledge the historic wrongs they experienced in the armed forces'. Some 84 veterans out of the 1,300 who have applied for the financial payment have been paid so far, according to Fighting with Pride, a charity advocating for the veterans. While the charity has welcomed efforts by the Government to roll out the scheme, it is warning many veterans are now ageing and in poor health and are in need of financial help in their later years. Liberal Democrat MP Jess Brown-Fuller will lead the Wednesday afternoon Westminster Hall debate on the financial redress scheme for the veterans. Ahead of the debate the Chichester MP described the matter as a 'crucial issue'. She added: 'Members of the armed forces who put their life on the line for our country were dismissed in huge numbers for simply daring to be who they are. 'Many faced verbal and physical abuse that stripped veterans not only of their career but of their dignity. 'It's a scandal that the compensation they are rightly owed has been so delayed.' Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting With Pride, said: 'It's vital affected veterans get swift justice. 'Many are in their 60s, 70s and 80s – many with poor mental and physical health. Put simply, they don't have time to wait. 'The debate in Westminster serves as an important reminder to Government to speed up consideration of the applications for financial reparations and improve communications. 'Every submission details someone's painful memories of being shunned by the military family; of bullying, intimidation and in some cases criminal convictions and prison.' Mr Gibson met this week with veterans minister Al Carns, where he said the charity 'passed on the real experiences and frustrations of veterans'. A series of recommendations to improve the redress scheme were 'received warmly', he added. 'We're confident – and determined – we'll see improvements which finally deliver the justice impacted veterans deserve,' Mr Gibson said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LGBT veterans will not lose other benefits after compensation
Veterans due to receive payments from the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will not lose out on other benefits after a change to legislation. The Scottish government has confirmed that 1,200 armed forces members who suffered under the ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel have now applied to the UK government's payment scheme. The ban was in place within the UK military from 1967 to 2000 and, after years of campaigning, the UK government announced the payments last December. Up to £75m has been set aside to acknowledge hurt and discrimination, with affected veterans able to receive awards of up to £70,000 each. Some veterans currently receive financial help, on a means-tested basis, through the council tax reduction scheme. But Finance Secretary Shona Robison said regulations would be now changed to ensure any compensation payments do not affect eligibility for this. Ms Robison said: "As we mark 25 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces, it is important to recognise the hardship that so many faced, with widespread homophobic bullying and harassment. "Nothing will make up for the difficulties that LGBT veterans faced, however, our action will ensure those in Scotland receive every penny that they are entitled to." Under the UK government scheme, those who were dismissed or discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity could receive £50,000. Former service personnel who suffered harassment, intrusive investigations or even imprisonment could receive further payments of up to £20,000. Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting with Pride, said the group had "campaigned for justice for LGBTQ+ veterans for many years, helping to secure reparations and financial recognition of their horrendous treatment prior to 2000". He added: "As we slowly see the UK government deal with those financial payments, protected from benefit and taxation impact, it is wonderful to see the Scottish government taking action to ensure other benefits such as council tax benefit is also protected too. "We continue to seek out veterans who were discharged or dismissed from the military to support them, and this news is one more step towards helping those in Scotland." Arrested at Edinburgh Castle for being gay in the Army Gay ban veterans to get up to £70K in compensation 'My partner hid and secretly waved off my ship': LGBT veteran monument revealed
STV News
07-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Hundreds apply to compensation scheme set up after armed forces LGBT ban
More than 1,200 Scots have applied for payments from a compensation scheme set up to help members of the military impacted by a ban on LGBT personnel serving in the forces. The Scottish Government confirmed the figure as it vowed to act to ensure those who suffered under the ban – which was in place until 2000 – get 'every penny they are entitled to'. It comes after the UK Government announced in December last year that it was setting up the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, with up to £75m set aside for payments. These could see former services personnel who were impacted by the ban receive up to £70,000 each. With veterans also potentially able to receive financial help through the council tax reduction scheme, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said regulations will be changed to ensure any compensation payments do not affect eligibility for this. Robison said: 'As we mark 25 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces, it is important to recognise the hardship that so many faced, with widespread homophobic bullying and harassment. 'Nothing will make up for the difficulties that LGBT veterans faced, however our action will ensure those in Scotland receive every penny that they are entitled to.' Under the UK Government scheme, those who were dismissed or discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity could receive £50,000 in compensation. Former service personnel who suffered harassment, intrusive investigations or even imprisonment could also receive payments of up to £20,000. Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting with Pride, said it had 'campaigned for justice for LGBTQ+ veterans for many years, helping to secure reparations and financial recognition of their horrendous treatment prior to 2000'. He added: 'As we slowly see the UK Government deal with those financial payments, protected from benefit and taxation impact, it is wonderful to see the Scottish Government taking action to ensure other benefits such as council tax benefit is also protected too. 'We continue to seek out veterans who were discharged or dismissed from the military to support them, and this news is one more step towards helping those in Scotland.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
LGBT veterans 'angry and disappointed' at pace of government compensation scheme
Wrongfully dismissed for the historic 'crime' of being LGBT and trying to serve their country, mistreated veterans have, on Thursday, expressed anger at the pace of a compensation scheme aimed at addressing this injustice. In December, the government announced up to £75 million for the LGBT financial recognition scheme, with payments of up to £70,000 for each veteran 'to acknowledge the historic wrongs they experienced in the armed forces'. On Thursday, these same veterans expressed anger and disappointment that out of more than 1,000 applications for compensation over the last five months - so far just 24 have been paid. If applications were to continue being processed at this speed it would take more than 17 years to complete the compensation scheme. The Fighting with Pride military charity said eight of the 24 payouts were to veterans with life-limiting health conditions. The charity's chief executive Peter Gibson said older veterans have been left 'furious' and feeling that 'justice delayed is justice denied'. He has written to Defence Secretary John Healey to convey the 'growing anger, frustration and impatience' of veterans, and to say the scheme 'is sadly not delivering at a pace which meets the expectations of the ageing veterans we are working with'. Mr Gibson said a staff of 15 people to deal with the scheme 'together with underperforming technology is clearly and simply not enough to meet the demand'. Emma Storey, who was under investigation by military police and left the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1987, shared her anger over the delays. She said: 'We feel angry and disappointed. We were treated abysmally during our service. Forced out for our sexuality and loving the people we love, only to be let down by a casual approach to the payments we're owed. 'I'm 64 years old and deserve to enjoy some dignity in the later years of my life. 'After reopening the wounds by applying for the financial recognition scheme, the least I'd expect is to be showed the decency and respect of a prompt resolution.' For many veterans, who are now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s time is of the essence. 'For many it means justice delayed is justice denied. Fighting With Pride will continue to do everything we can to find every single affected LGBT veteran and ensure they get the reparations they deserve," said Peter Gibson. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'We recognise the need to work quickly through the over 1,000 applications for financial recognition we've received. 'The process of working through the applications requires checking a number of information sources and historical records, however we understand the need for timeliness in delivering this important scheme. 'We are working closely with stakeholder groups and applicants can receive updates on their progress from the team via
