Dismissed LGBT military veterans were served ‘great injustice’, says PM

Veterans dismissed from the military because of their sexuality were served a “great injustice”, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

The Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that those who were wrongly sacked – prior to a change in policy in 2000 that allowed previously-banned gay people to serve – will now be able to reclaim medals that were confiscated from them.

The MoD said it wanted to address an “historical wrong”.

Mr Johnson said: “Those who serve in our Armed Forces deserve every recognition for their service.

“It was a very great injustice that this was denied to some members simply because of their sexuality.

“I hugely welcome the fact we can now address this historic wrong.”

Prior to 2000, some members of the military received convictions under the-then legislation for homosexual behaviour that has now been de-criminalised, while others were discharged solely on the basis of their sexuality, without any conviction.

Some either forfeited medals directly, or were prevented from continuing to serve and therefore denied the ability to regain medals.

But the MoD said it was “committed” to enabling all those affected “to apply to have their medals restored”.

Personnel will be able to apply to have their case reviewed by the defence council and successful applicants will be able to get a new medal.

If the person has died then their family can apply for a review on their behalf.

Among those affected by the ban was Carl Austin-Behan, deputy lord lieutenant of Greater Manchester and trustee of the LGBT+ veterans’ charity Fighting With Pride.

Mr Austin-Behan joined the armed forces in 1989 and had a busy career, including saving a colleague’s life, receiving a bravery award and an honour from the Queen.

But in 1997, he was called in to see senior RAF personnel and the RAF police.

He said: “When they asked if I was a homosexual I knew my life was about to change.

“I know I could’ve said ‘no’ but there comes a point in time when you have to be true to yourself.

“As they began to ask me again, I broke down crying before they could finish.

“Within a day, I lost the job that I had signed up to for 20 years, lost my home and lost all my friends – I felt like I’d let everyone down.

“My life just tumbled around me.

“Due to my exemplary service record, the awards I received, and the charity work I’d undertaken, they decided to suspend me from duty rather than send me to military prison – which was still an option.

“I was marched off camp within an hour, just enough time to be able to throw everything I had into boxes, which the RAF would deliver to an address of my choice.”

Falklands veteran Joe Ousalice took the MoD to court to get his medal returned after he was forced to leave the Royal Navy in 1993 due to his sexuality.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer apologised for the historic policy.

He told Sky News: “Where we have had discriminatory policies like this, I apologise.

“I hope today’s announcement will go some way – clearly it will never go all the way – to redressing the pain caused over the years by the policy of discriminating against the LGBT community.”

(c) Sky News 2021: Dismissed LGBT military veterans were served ‘great injustice’, says PM