Yorkshire LGBTQ+ veterans urged to come forward for financial redress over Armed Forces 'gay ban'

LGBT-plus ex-servicemen and women have until December 12 to apply for a financial redress scheme for those impacted by the pre-2000 “gay ban” in the military.

Under the ban, which was in place between 1967 and 2000, men and women in the army, navy, and air force were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.

Fighting With Pride, a charity which has campaigned on behalf of LGBT veterans, is now urging those who have not yet come forward to make a claim from the Government redress scheme to do so before it is too late.

It says that there has been particularly low interest in applying for redress in Yorkshire and the Humber, despite the significant number of ex-Army, RAF and Navy personnel in the region.

North Yorkshire is home to Catterick Garrison, the British Army’s largest base in the world, and also has RAF Leeming and Fylingdales.

More than 1,500 people have already made a claim through the financial redress scheme, which awards £50,000 discharge payments and up to £20,000 impact payments.

However, Fighting With Pride believes that around 1,000 veterans, who were aggressively forced out of service for being gay, are still to be found.

These people are based in areas like Yorkshire and the North East, with low take up of the scheme.

Only one LGBT-plus veteran has come forward from Yorkshire and the Humber since June, according to the charity.

Fighting With Pride says that less than £20m of the £75m fund is left to be paid out and has launched a campaign, “the battle for lost veterans”, aimed at urging them to come forward.

Peter Gibson, the charity’s chief executive, said: “At Fighting With Pride, we’re determined to find every last veteran who’s owed justice. Nobody should be left behind.

“As the only LGBTQ-plus specific armed forces charity, we will help anyone impacted by the ban to apply for what is rightfully yours, before it’s too late.”

Mr Gibson – the former Conservative MP for Darlington – said he hoped there could be an effort across the entire veteran community to help seek out people yet to make a claim.

“We know many felt so shunned and hurt by their brutal treatment that they have distanced themselves from both the military and LGBTQ+ communities. We understand.

“If you know anyone who served and suffered under this outrageous historic policy, please help us find everyone.

“We’re determined to restore pride and dignity in service.”

Mr Gibson explained that in particular very few women have come forward. Dawn Loynes joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17, before she was unlawfully dismissed in 1994.

She said: “The mistreatment I experienced as a young female sailor had a profound and lasting impact on my life.

“While nothing can undo what happened, reconnecting with my military family, receiving my beret, and having my experiences recognised have all been important steps in my healing.”