New comic shares stories of LGBTQs affected by UK military’s gay ban – in 10 images

A new comic book telling the stories of British LGBTQ military veterans in their own words is to be released to coincide with the anniversary of the lift on the armed forces ‘gay ban’.

Coming Home issue 2 will be on sale through comic shops in UK, USA, Ireland and Australia from Wednesday 8 January 2025, 25 years after the ban was repealed.

Under the ban, thousands of LGBTQ service personnel were subjected to surveillance and interrogation, dismissals for ‘conduct unbecoming’, and imprisonment. Many suffered mental ill-health from the punishments and shame inflicted.

The comic tells a wide range of stories, including that of RAF Flight Lieutenant Steve Purves, who was jailed for a consensual relationship with another man, plus trans fighter pilot Caroline Paige.

The release features work from celebrated LGBTQ and allied comic book artists such as Ed Firth, currently artist in residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation, plus Observer/Faber graphic short story prize champ Anna Readman.

Here, we meet some of the people involved in the project.

Karin Diamond, co-editor, Coming Home comic

“It’s been an honour to work with this group of LGBTQ veteran storytellers and support them to share such powerful mental health stories. When I first heard some of these stories, it’s hard not to think ‘that’s unbelievable’, but the fact that these are true stories makes them all the more impactful. We hope that the comic reaches other veterans who might be holding their own mental health stories and helps them to see they’re not alone and that it is OK to take the first step in getting some help and support. We also hope Coming Home enlightens and informs comic readers about some of the hidden struggles members of our Armed Forces go through.”

Flight Lieutenant Steve Purves, who is telling his story for the first time

“I had a profound experience on our cosmic comic journey. I found this to be a hugely imaginative exploration and capture of memories of my life through dialogue and questions. There were tears, tantrums, tiaras and a lot of fun. The whole process was exhausting but cathartic.

“Not once did Steve or Karin give up on me and they really pushed me to delve deep, resulting in the end product, for which I am enormously grateful and proud. The fuel for the comic was my story which was a jumble of memories, recollections and emotions and much rambling. I know for certain that without the professional eyes and hands of both Steve and Karin I would have been unable to provide a cohesive story.

“I had a 13-year career in the Royal Air Force having joined at 16, which contained much trauma, some of which manifested in our sessions. I am super proud to have been allowed to be a part of this project and it has made me feel as though I do have a story worth telling. I love the way that they have been both playful and serious about the portrayal of myself, warts and all. This is a boost to my confidence and clarity of mind and I can’t thank them enough for the peace of mind I feel now.

“I am delighted with what we have produced for posterity by capturing how the ban affected my life and military service.

“The process raised some surprising issues that I have been holding for some time, for which I am seeking the help of Op COURAGE, the veterans’ mental health service at St. Pancras Hospital.”

Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige

“I found the comic-making process a truly exciting way to explore my story. It was harder work than I had initially imagined, reaching back to some very difficult parts of my life and recalling them in enough detail to visually present the impacts, consequences and emotions. But the support and understanding I had in doing that was brilliant, and there was a welcome balance in capturing the positive and exciting times too. When I saw the artist’s first draft images, I realised what a privilege it was to have my story told in this way. I’d had to trust my life story into the hands of someone I had never met previously, and that’s a big worry and a big responsibility for them too, but seeing how it developed and the care that was taken, and the genuine commitment to get it absolutely right, I felt a sense of relief, and pride.”

Private Julia Curry

“I found it hard opening up such a traumatic experience, but because of Karin and Steve’s kind and understanding personalities, I felt at ease sharing the trauma.

“It was a shock at first seeing myself drawn as a younger woman and it put us straight back into the Army environment. Our artist Anna Readman has picked up our personalities in her drawings perfectly. We were there reliving it with her drawings.

“It was fantastic to have our input into her work because our story isn’t made up, it isn’t fiction.  And as perfect as her artwork was, having input into the process meant we could still change things that weren’t quite right and make sure it was just as we remembered it.

“I am a comic fan and to think I am now in one is unbelievable.  Who would have thought when we were being interrogated in the early 1990s that 30 years later we’d be characters in a comic. It’s mind blowing!

“Making a comic has been such a great way to tell our story as people can see it, read and digest the pictures in a relatively short space of time. I love the fact that we will reach a new audience for comic readers.”

Her wife Corporal Ruth Paige

“I couldn’t wait to see the drawings of myself and Ju and as we went through each page. We were just amazed at how we looked and although we haven’t met our artist Anna yet she totally captured our spirit and souls so completely. To be able to make some of the changes to just keep improving on what was practically perfection was a rewarding part of the process.  To be involved in the comic journey right through to the printing is like being there at conception and birth I suppose!

“It’s truly awesome to see myself in the comic. Ju and I are now immortalised in a comic book… forever!  I am a big fan of comic books, like my wife Ju, and to think that the next time I go into a comic store our comic will be there is an amazing feeling.”

Lieutenant Commander Craig Jones, MBE

“Seeing each panel is like taking a step back in time for me. It is incredible to be able to watch important moment in my life come alive on every page. Some of those times were moments of great challenge and some were moments of celebration, but in the fullness of time, I have cherished them all. Seeing them recorded in this way is truly amazing.

“The process of creating the comic strip was painstaking and at each stage I saw the images getting ever closer to my memories. This immensely talented team dedicated many months of work to the task and took great care to capture these moments from my real life and service.

“It’s fantastic to see my past brought to life in this way and it’s something I will read many times and cherish forever.

“The Coming Home project brings to life part of the history of our Armed Forces which was so nearly lost. In these stories we see both selfless service to our nation and the journey of discovery which is faced by all LGBT+ people. Comics are a medium of storytelling which engages with a wide range of readers including younger adults and older people, so it’s the perfect way for new readers to learn these important histories.”

Ed Firth, artist

“I felt a sense of duty of occupying the role of ‘queer historian’, to distil a visual narrative from memories, with accurate period detail. This was my first time working from someone else’s script. I enjoyed the process and the challenge of bringing someone’s recollections to life in a way that felt true to their experience, but also involve and intrigue the reader.

“It’s important that generations following after the narrators from this anthology understand: nobody is going to give you your rights, but they are going to chip away at them constantly – you have to participate in democracy, communicate who you are and what you need, and where laws and statutes need to change, add your voice to those already addressing these problems and help resolve them together. Even if you don’t do politics, politics will do you. A minority of straight people’s bizarre obsession with queer sex lives and sexual identities will always endanger our freedoms, so we have to be vigilant always, and demand respect where it lapses, curate happiness, and protect safe spaces. Don’t wait for someone to bring it to you on a silver platter.”

Anna Readman, artist

“Bringing Ruth and Ju’s story to life was an important task to get right, and it was a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to do so. They faced tremendous challenges in their lives to be themselves and to be together, but as they bring so much joy and life to the world, I could use a lot of humour to naturally balance the darker moments, conveying nuances that can be understood by all. As this is such a personal story, I wanted every aspect of the art to complement it, so I decided to hand-letter the captions and dialogue to make it as expressive and unique to character as possible. As I was also given a lot of research and reference images to work from, I knew that getting the details right was also as important as the characters, so I really tried to make everything as accurate and true to life as I could – even tracking down the correct vintage Garfield posters in Ruth’s room!

“This was also the first time I have coloured my work in a professional capacity, so that was a nice opportunity and artistic process to be trusted with

“I knew being LGBTQ+ was looked down upon, but I didn’t realise the extent and nastiness of the harassment and destruction that the Armed Forces caused to their hardworking and loyal LGBTQ+ members, and it is heartbreaking. Reading Ruth and Ju’s story was a real eye-opener, and I’m hoping that by illustrating it their story can be read and shared by many more.”