‘UK’s gay military ban left lives and ambitions shattered – LGBTQ veterans must now have their stories heard’

Words: Terence Etherton, Baron Etherton; Images: Pexels (left) and Wiki Commons

For far too long, many LGBT veterans and their families have had to live with a great injustice. 

It is a sad fact that it has taken over 20 years for a review to be held into what the government accepts was an unjust policy – the pre-2000 ban on homosexuals serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. 

Now, at last, a light is being shone on the distress suffered by those whose dreams, lives and ambitions were shattered, leaving behind bitterness and distrust. 

Today, I am extremely pleased to be launching a Call for Evidence – just six weeks after being appointed Chair of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review by the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, and the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Stephen Barclay. 

This Review aims to investigate how the ban was implemented and its impact on those serving in the military, both at the time and to this day. 

For veterans and their families, this is the first chance to tell their story. And on the basis of their evidence, I will make recommendations to the government on three counts.

First: how best to make amends for the injustice of the ban and its operation; second, how to give proper recognition to the military service of those who were discharged because of the ban; and finally, how to bring this understandably disaffected group within the general community of veterans. 

“It is a sad fact that it has taken over 20 years for a review to be held into what the government accepts was an unjust policy”

And my appeal, therefore, to every individual affected by the ban is that they come forward to tell their story – details of how to make initial contact are at the bottom of this article. By listening to their evidence over the next four months, I will be gaining a better understanding of their experiences before reporting to the government next year. 

I recognise that for many it will be incredibly difficult and upsetting to recollect what they have endured. Yet recording their testimony will be essential for making evidence-based recommendations. 

This Call for Evidence will build on the good work that I know LGBT organisations, such as Fighting with Pride, have been doing to support veterans for a number of years. Armed with my findings, the government will know more about the kind of support LGBT veterans need, and will be better placed to make sure that those affected by the ban can access it. 

Of course, the impact of the ban extends beyond veterans themselves. For this reason, the call for evidence is also for friends and families, and organisations and academic institutions that may have relevant evidence or insights into the effects of the ban. 

The Review team and I are working with some excellent charities, including Fighting with Pride and Forward Assist, so that veterans can access the support they need for the duration of the Review. 

We encourage anyone who is struggling to get in touch with the charities; and anyone who feels they are at crisis point to reach out and talk to someone – whether friends and family, or the Samaritans. They are available 24/7 on 11612, and calls are free of charge. 

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More information about the Review and Call for Evidence form can be found at www.gov.uk/LGBT-Veteran-Review. For a paper version of the form or any additional details, please contact the Review team on contact@lgbtveterans.independent-review.uk. Evidence can be submitted by post using FREEPOST, LGBT VETERANS, INDEPENDENT REVIEW.  

Lord Etherton, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, was previously Master of the Rolls, 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. Lord Etherton 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.