Britain’s first openly gay senior judge will lead a review into the implications of a historic ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces.
Lord Etherton’s inquiry will examine how those affected can be compensated.
Activists are hoping for compensation for lost livelihoods and suffering, as well as mental health support.
The review applies to veterans who served between 1967, when homosexual acts were decriminalized, and 2000.
Until then, being gay in the British military was illegal – more than 5,000 members of the armed forces are said to be affected.
Those found to be homosexual or believed to be homosexual faced intrusive investigations and were fired or otherwise forced to leave the military. Many still have the conviction on their criminal records.
Some veterans say it meant a complete loss of income, which still affects them today due to years of missed pension contributions.
Lord Etherton is being asked to offer suggestions on how the government “could seek to mitigate any impact, including financial impacts”, according to the BBC.
- A gay veteran’s flashbacks about “sadistic” treatment
- LGBT in the armed forces: ‘It was a very scary time’
- “I was removed from the RAF base because I’m gay”
- People living with HIV are allowed to join the armed forces
The independent review was created as part of the Government’s Strategic Action Plan for Veterans. Lord Etherton was appointed by Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and the Prime Minister’s Chief Assistant Steve Barclay.
Lord Etherton said he wanted to offer veterans a “safe space” to share their stories.
“This will allow me to make appropriate recommendations on how the government can fulfill its obligation to ensure that the experiences of all veterans are understood and valued,” he added.
David Bonney served four months in a military prison in Colchester in 1995 after being convicted of “homosexual conduct” while working as a medic for the RAF.
He told the BBC he welcomed the chairman’s announcement but hoped the review would be carried out quickly.
The BBC estimates the review could take up to 12 months.
“There are people with serious problems, cancer and things like that,” Mr. Bonney said.
“It would be nice if they could sort everything out before they die.”
He added that Lord Etherton would be “rather likely to draw the right conclusions” than someone who “knows what it’s like to hide your true self”.
The review comes after years of campaigning by veterans and charities.
The CEOs of the charity Fighting with Pride, Caroline Paige and Craig Jones, told the BBC the announcement “brings hope to veterans who served at a time when they were not as welcome in the armed forces as LGBT personnel are today”.
“They have faced immense challenges in their lives as a result of the ban and today’s announcement inspires hope for a brighter future,” they said in a joint statement.
Since the BBC first reported on the review, around 400 veterans have come forward to share their stories with the charity.
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