Latest news with #LGBTFinancialRecognitionScheme
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- 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
19 hours ago
- 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
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why UK gay ban veterans kept on fighting for justice
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 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 opened for LGBT veterans, who were dismissed or discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to receive £50,000 also applies to officers instructed to retire or 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 compensation is aimed at those who suffered harassment, invasive investigations and those who were sent to 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 scheme will run for two years.
