A call for evidence has been launched to share views on the
treatment of veterans affected by the pre-2000 ban on
homosexuality in the armed forces.
Individuals who were affected by the pre-2000 ban on
homosexuality in the armed forces are urged to respond to a
17 week
call for evidence to inform recommendations to ensure that
the service of every LGBT veteran is understood and valued.
Responses are welcomed from all those who served in the UK Armed
Forces from 1967 - 2000 and their families, and from academics
and organisations with an interest in the UK Armed Forces and the
LBGT community.
The call for evidence has been designed to be user-friendly,
quick to fill in and easily accessible. Individuals will be able
to come forward through an online survey here or via Freepost.
Regardless of where they live, veterans affected by the UK armed
forces ban will be able to provide their testimony to the call
for evidence.
This call for evidence comes following the appointment of The
PC QC last month.
The PC QC said:
The object of the Review is to provide evidence based
recommendations to the government as to how best the government
can meet its commitment to ensure that all veterans’ experiences
are understood and their military service valued, and how best to
acknowledge and remedy the injustice of dismissal of LGBT service
personnel prior to 2000 on the grounds of their sexual
orientation.
This call for evidence will ensure that veterans can share their
experiences. I encourage all those affected by the ban to come
forward with testimony in this safe environment, to shape the
review’s recommendations.
The review was announced by the Defence Secretary and former
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster , as part of the Veterans’
Strategy Action Plan in January 2022. 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 affects their life.
The review will consider the experiences of LGBT veterans and
their families in the context of the pre-2000 ban, including the
nature of dismissal, the impact this had on their subsequent
lives.
From these testimonies, the review team will be able to 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.
Last week, the government also announced the appointment of
as Minister for Veterans’
Affairs at the Cabinet Office.
