Several UK LGBTQIA+ and military organizations have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pressing the government to address their pledge to discuss reparations owed to LGBTQIA+ veterans. This move comes on the heels of the UK government’s announcement that the planned parliamentary debate concerning this issue has been shelved.
Earlier, former Defence Minister Ben Wallace had in response to an independent report promised to ensure this matter is debated in parliament. The report in question examined the service of LGBTQIA+ veterans who served prior to 2000, during the period when their presence in the Armed Forces was outlawed, despite homosexuality being legal in the UK. The ban ended in 2000. The review detailed testimonies from many LGBTQIA+ veterans, elucidating the homophobia, bullying, blackmail, sexual assaults and ‘disgraceful medical examinations’ they experienced, as well as their impact on the veterans’ mental health and living conditions.
Following the publication of the review in July 2023, Sunak apologised on the parliament floor on behalf of the nation for this ‘appalling failure’ of the British state and its subsequent effect on the veterans. Nevertheless, the government appears to have reneged on its intention to debate this issue in parliament.
Thirteen individuals and organizations are now calling on the government to fulfill their assurances of addressing this matter. In their letter, they urged the government not to disappoint these veterans again. They asked Sunak to hold the planned debate and devise a compensation scheme that fully accounts for the disadvantage and injury the LGBTQIA+ veterans have endured. In their view, the £50 million cap proposed by the LGBT Independent Review for a compensation scheme should be eschewed as there are better ways to safeguard the public purse. They conclude the letter by urging the government to acknowledge this unique opportunity to end the disgrace and dishonour imposed on these veterans and remove the cap, negotiating fair compensation for those affected by the illegal ‘gay ban’.
The government is soon expected to publish their full response to the ‘LGBT Veterans Independent Review’.
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