Between 1967 and 2000—a period when homosexual conduct was no longer a crime in civilian life—some 20,000 LGBT people were thrown out of the armed forces because of their sexuality under discriminatory rules to which they were subject.
The appalling consequences of that injustice—in social, financial and human terms—were set out in harrowing detail in a report in July 2023 by Lord Etherton, a former Master of the Rolls, the country’s second most senior judge.
The report’s 49 recommendations were accepted by the last Government, following a full public apology by the then Prime Minister, Mr Sunak.
At the end of last year, the implementation of particularly important recommendations took place with the announcement by the current Government of a Financial Recognition Scheme to provide payments to LGBT veterans in recognition of the injustice they had suffered.
Alistair Lexden asked about the progress of the scheme at question time in the Lords on 30 April. He said:
“Is it not imperative that we never forget the thousands of brave members of our armed forces who had their careers destroyed and their lives broken before 2000, simply because they were LGBT?
Should not the highest importance be attached to this Financial Recognition Scheme—which is the result of work begun under the last Government and completed by this one?
Is it not essential that payments are made as fast and generously as possible because so many LGBT veterans are now old and frail, and often in financial hardship as a result of the state’s wrongdoing years ago?
Finally, is it not important that we remember the work from which this scheme derives—namely, the superb and comprehensive report by the noble and learned Lord Etherton, who, sadly, cannot be in his place amongst us today.“
The Defence Minister in the Lords, Lord Coaker, stated in reply: “I fully support everything that the noble Lord said in a very moving way.” He reported that payments of £50,000 each had been sent to a number of applicants “who are terminally ill or who have health challenges.”
He accepted that “we need to work as fast as possible. That is why we have started with those applicants who are unwell, and are working through the applications as fast as possible.”
The important thing now is to make LGBT veterans aware of the payments to which they are entitled so they can apply for them.
