Veterans asked to give views on pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in armed forces as part of Government inquiry

Veterans impacted by the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the armed forces are being urged to share their views as part of an inquiry.

A call for evidence was launched by the UK Government on Friday, July 15, and will consider how personnel were treated.

The review was announced by the UK Government as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan in January 2022.

The independent review aims to provide the opportunity for the Government to better understand the lived experience of LGBT veterans who served prior to 2000, including how being discharged from the military because of their sexuality affects their life.

It will consider the experiences of LGBT veterans and their families in the context of the pre-2000 ban, including the nature of dismissal, the impact this had on their subsequent lives.

Responses are being welcomed from all those who served in the UK Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000.

It will also be open to their families, academics and organisations with an interest in the UK Armed Forces, and to the LGBT community.

The call for evidence, which has been designed to be user-friendly and accessible, will allow people to come forward through an online survey or via Freepost, and is expected to last for 17 weeks.

Regardless of where they live, veterans affected by the UK armed forces ban will be able to provide their testimony to the call for evidence.

The announcement follows the appointment of Lord Etherton PC QC to the inquiry last month.

“The object of the Review is to provide evidence based recommendations to the government as to how best the Government can meet its commitment to ensure that all veterans’ experiences are understood and their military service valued,” he said.

“And how best to acknowledge and remedy the injustice of dismissal of LGBT service personnel prior to 2000 on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

“This call for evidence will ensure that veterans can share their experiences. I encourage all those affected by the ban to come forward with testimony in this safe environment, to shape the review’s recommendations.”