British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued a formal apology to LGBTQ members of the UK military following the publication of a damning report. The report, called the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, gathered evidence from more than 1,000 military members and veterans and revealed numerous instances of sexual abuse and homophobic bullying within the armed forces.
According to the report, individuals were removed from the military solely because of their sexual identities, and many experienced horrific sexual abuse, violence, and harassment while serving their country. This mistreatment of LGBTQ military personnel was described as an “appalling failure of the British state” and was said to be “decades behind the law of this land.”
In an address to the UK Parliament, Sunak expressed the government’s apology on behalf of the British state. He stated, “I hope all those affected will be able to feel proud parts of the veteran community that has done so much to keep this country safe.” He acknowledged that some treatment of LGBTQ military personnel was an unacceptable failure and committed to addressing the issue.
The report also provided 49 recommendations to the government. One of the significant recommendations was the introduction of an “appropriate financial reward” for veterans who were affected by historical abuse. While Sunak did not directly respond to the recommendations, he mentioned that meetings with government colleagues had been scheduled to discuss the matter further.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK in 1967, but the ban on LGBTQ individuals serving in the armed forces continued until January 2000. The report revealed that the Ministry of Defence justified this policy by citing “the maintenance of operational effectiveness and efficiency.” However, the report criticized the military’s stance on LGBTQ members as an “incomprehensible policy of homophobic bigotry.”
The publication of this report comes more than two decades after the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of five UK military members who were fired due to their sexual orientation. This ruling led to the overturning of the ban and marked an important milestone for LGBTQ rights in the military.
The LGBTQ charity Fighting With Pride estimates that between 2,000 and 5,000 people were severely impacted by the UK armed forces’ anti-gay policies. Some individuals had their service medals revoked, and others still carry criminal records related to their sexual identities. The charity has demanded the expungement of any such criminal records and compensation of £100,000 ($130,000) for those affected.
The apology from Prime Minister Sunak and the publication of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review highlight the need for greater inclusivity and respect within the military. It is essential to address past injustices and ensure that LGBTQ military personnel are treated with dignity and equality.
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