PC QC has been appointed as
the chair of the independent review into the impact the historic
ban on LGBT military personnel had on veterans.
The review was announced by the Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster and the Defence Secretary as part of the Veterans’
Strategy Action Plan in January. The independent review will
provide the opportunity for the Government to better understand
the lived experience of LGBT veterans, who served prior to 2000,
including how being discharged from the military because of their
sexuality affected their life.
The announcement of the chair of the review forms part of the
Government’s wider measures for veterans this Armed Forces Week.
In January, the Government launched the Veterans’ Strategy Action
Plan of
more than 60 commitments backed by an extra £70 million.
Significant progress has been made with more than a fifth of
commitments already completed after just six months.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans said:
The historic ban was wrong and those who were thrown out of the
military purely because of their sexuality suffered and we
acknowledge that. This review will help us better understand the
impact and I am delighted that the highly eminent will be chairing it. We look
forward to seeing the outcome of the review and reviewing the
recommendations.
is a crossbench member of
the House of Lords. He was formerly Master of the Rolls,
the President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal and
the Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He has served as
chair of the Law Commission of England and Wales and the
Chancellor of the High Court. He is an honorary professor of law
at Birkbeck, London University. was the first openly gay
judge of the Senior Courts. He entered into a civil partnership
in 2006 and a same sex marriage in 2014.
The Rt Hon.The PC, Kt, QC said:
I am extremely pleased to be appointed as the chair of the
independent review into the treatment of LGBT veterans by the
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Secretary of
State for Defence.
This is an important review that will provide an opportunity for
veterans across the country who were affected by the pre-2000 ban
on homosexuality to share their testimonies in a safe
environment. This will allow me to make measured recommendations
as to how the government can meet their commitment to ensure that
all veterans’ experiences are understood and valued .
From this, the review team will make evidence-based
recommendations as to how the government can meet its commitment
in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan and ensure the service and
experience of every LGBT veteran is understood and valued. is expected to report his
recommendations next year.
The review follows steps the Government has already taken to
enable those who forfeited medals for reasons relating to their
sexuality to apply to have them returned. The Home Secretary also
announced an expansion to the scope of a scheme which enables
those with historic convictions for same-sex sexual activity to
apply to have their caution or conviction disregarded. The
expansion will greatly increase the number of veterans able to
benefit from the scheme.
Joint CEOs of Fighting With Pride Craig Jones MBE and Caroline
Paige said:
The LGBT Veterans Independent Review brings hope to veterans who
served at a time when they were not welcomed in the Armed Forces
as LGBT personnel are today. They have faced immense
challenges in their lives in consequence of the ban and today’s
announcement brings hope for a better future.
Fighting With Pride looks forward to working with as he begins the important
work of hearing evidence from those who lost careers, homes and
families in the years of the ban and for whom the impact endures.
ENDSBackground
The full Terms of Reference for the review can be found here
Terms of reference for the
LGBT Veterans Independent Review
