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BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Portsmouth navy veterans' lives 'blighted' by gay ban
"You were living a double life, always looking over your shoulder."As Portsmouth finds itself at the heart of UK Pride this weekend, an iconic war vessel in the Hampshire city has been covered in rainbow colours to also mark 25 years since a ban on LGBT people serving in the military was Historic Quarter and military charity Fighting with Pride came together last month to celebrate LGBTQ+ veterans, by wrapping Landing Craft F8 in rainbow navy veterans have been speaking to the BBC about their experiences serving in the military under the ban. Until January 2000, the "gay ban" saw many LGBT people who served their country face dishonourable discharge, loss of medals and criminal charges because of their sexuality. Roly Woods is a former Sub Lt in the Royal Navy who served on HMS Leeds Castle during the Falklands said he hid his sexuality so that he could continue his military career."At one stage during my naval career, I was challenged by my commanding officer, who heard rumours that I had been seen by officers with a man," he said."I was called up to his office, sat down, and plainly asked – 'are you gay?'."Right there and then I had to decide, 'do I throw everything away, or do I lie?'.Choosing "in that split second" to lie, he said he "got away with it"."But it was an extremely difficult situation to deal with, both professionally and personally, and I wrestled with it for many years," he said. He said when he joined the navy "all the services in the UK Armed Forces were institutionally homophobic"."You were living a double life, always looking over your shoulder," he said. "I couldn't be out and open with my closest colleagues and friends."Not because I thought they would out me but I didn't want to put them in the position of having to choose - once they knew, they were culpable as well for not declaring it."He said "bottling it all up for decades" is not something that can be switched off overnight."There are other veterans who are completely broken, whose lives were blighted by this ban - they were dismissed, lost their family, lost their income, many lost their homes, some took their own lives," he said. 'Degree of guilt' When the gay ban was in place, the Royal Navy Special Investigation Branch (SIB) was responsible for investigating criminal offences within the navy, which included being Master at Arms in the Royal Navy Gavin Moulds served in the SIB from 1994 to said: "The ban, the way it was enforced, and to the level it was enforced, was never something I agreed with. "However, I cannot help but still feel a degree of guilt for my involvement – an apology would not be enough." But Mr Moulds said there was a "mental detachment and a professional requirement" in working for the SIB."In my experience, we behaved professionally towards any person that we dealt with," he Moulds said of the ban: "It was wrong. It's wrong today, it was wrong then and it should never have happened."The way some of those people were treated was horrendous." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Royal Navy vessel wrapped in Pride colours for gay personnel
A Royal Navy landing craft has been wrapped in Pride colours to mark 25 years since the ban on gay people serving in the UK armed forces was of the public will be able view and take trips onboard Landing Craft Foxtrot 8 (F8) which is based at Portsmouth Historic vessel, which was used in the Falklands War, has become the first in British history to be wrapped in the rainbow colours The project to put the colourful vinyl wrap on the F8 has been organised with the charity Fighting with Pride ahead of Portsmouth hosting UK Pride on June 7. Until January 2000, LGBTQ+ people were banned from serving and faced dishonourable discharge, loss of medals, surveillance and Roly Woods, a former sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy who served on HMS Leeds Castle during the Falklands War, said that he had chosen to lie when challenged by his commanding officer about his relationship with another said: "My captain accepted it and I got away with it but it was an extremely difficult situation to deal with both professionally and personally and I wrestled with it for many years." 'Degree of guilt' Former master at arms in the Royal Navy and volunteer at Portsmouth Historic Quarter, Gavin Moulds, served in the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) from 1994 to 2003 and was involved in investigating criminal offences within the navy, including the ban on said: "The ban, the way it was enforced, and to the level it was enforced, was never something I agreed with. "However, I cannot help but still feel a degree of guilt for my involvement - an apology would not be enough."In December 2024, the Ministry of Defence announced the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, which enables anyone impacted by the ban while serving in the armed forces between 1967 and 2000 to apply for recognition payments up to £50, Woods, who is the memorial officer for Fighting with Pride, estimates that hundreds of LGBTQ+ veterans are yet to come forward for compensation or to have their medals said: "The unveiling of Landing Craft F8 in her Pride colours is a celebration of real progress for the LGBTQ+ community in the armed forces, and it is an extremely proud moment for both LGBTQ+ veterans and for those serving today."Landing Craft F8 will be on display in Pride colours on the pontoons at Boathouse 4 and available for charter or walk-up rides from May 15 until the end of September. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
