Government to Offer Up to £70,000 Compensation to LGBT Veterans Affected by Military Ban

The government has announced that LGBT veterans, who were discharged from the armed forces due to their sexual orientation, will qualify for compensation amounting to as much as £70,000. According to the Ministry of Defence, this initiative resulted from comprehensive discussions with LGBT veterans and advocacy groups. Service members impacted by the ban are now able to seek the restoration of their military rank and the alteration of their discharge records. The overall fund allocated for this compensation scheme will be raised from an initial proposal of £50 million to £75 million. Defence Secretary John Healey, addressing the House of Commons, described the injustices experienced by LGBT service personnel as a “moral stain on our nation” during an apology. Starting Friday, applications will be accepted from LGBT veterans who were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, entitling them to £50,000. Furthermore, individuals adversely affected by the prohibition on LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000 will be eligible for supplementary payments of up to £20,000. These additional funds are intended for those who endured harassment, intrusive investigations, or imprisonment. An independent panel will determine the precise sum of this supplementary compensation. It has been confirmed that all disbursements will be free from income tax and will not impact eligibility for means-tested benefits. Mr. Healey stated that veterans who experienced mistreatment in the armed forces due to the “gay ban” can anticipate receiving compensation “soon into the new year”. He addressed the Commons, stating: “On behalf of the Government, I want to apologise without reservation for the pain and the injustice caused during this dark chapter of our armed forces history”. According to Healey, the proposed scheme will ensure that “any blame or dishonour” is removed from the service records of LGBT veterans. While homosexuality began to be decriminalised in the UK in 1967, a prohibition remained in effect within the armed forces until 2000. Individuals who were gay or perceived as such frequently underwent prolonged investigations prior to their discharge from military service. Stephen Close, who enlisted in the army at the age of 18, expressed his hope for financial compensation. Mr. Close received a conviction for the sexual offense of gross indecency following an incident where he kissed another man during his deployment in Berlin in the 1980s. He spent three decades living with the status of a convicted sex offender until he was pardoned in 2013. “Because of my criminal record, I’ve had to go from job to job. I’ve built no pension whatsoever. I’ve no savings. I’ve never been on holiday. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything new. It’s just been a constant struggle all my life”, Mr. Close informed the BBC. Mr. Close further stated: “Mentally, it’s been absolutely terrible. I’ve suffered for many years with depression, anxiety, I have panic attacks”. Nevertheless, he affirmed that he remains “proud” to have served his nation. A report by the National Audit Office indicated that as many as 4,000 veterans are anticipated to qualify for compensation. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review, spearheaded by Lord Etherton, Britain’s first openly gay judge, brought to light decades of harassment, assaults, and dismissals of LGBT service members, frequently resulting in a lack of income or pensions. Upon the publication of the report, the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an apology in Parliament, characterizing the ban as “an appalling failure” of the British state. The government asserts that the £75 million allocated surpasses the amount suggested by the Etherton Review. Veterans can enroll in the program starting Friday, December 13. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.