Review launched into the treatment of LGBT veterans who were forced to live double lives or stripped of military jobs and medals because of their sexuality under ban lifted in 2000

• Review launched into treatment of LGBT veterans expunged from Armed Forces
• Official review will hear stories of personnel stripped of jobs and medals
• LGBT veterans were forced to lead double lives under ban lifted in 2000 
• Campaigners called the 22-year delay to begin the review a ‘national disgrace’

A sweeping review has been launched into the treatment of LGBT veterans who were expunged from Britain’s Armed Forces because of their sexuality or forced to lead double lives.

The Cabinet Office’s review will hear the stories of military personnel who were stripped of their jobs and medals under homophobic laws that were in place until January 12, 2000.

Following the review, the Office for Veterans’s Affairs, which is part of the Cabinet department, will be working with charities to improve the support offered to veterans who were impacted by the ban.

This includes many who faced criminal convictions, prison sentences, and ‘dismissals in disgrace’.

Veterans affected by the ban welcomed the review, but said it had been ‘far too long coming’ and claimed it was a ‘national disgrace’ that ‘nothing had been done’ to help those ‘dismissed in disgrace’.

Craig Jones, co-director of LGBT charity Fighting With Pride, said he hopes that following the review the Government provides compensation for lost pensions and issues a full apology. 

A sweeping review has been launched into the treatment of LGBT veterans who were expunged from Britain’s Armed Forces because of their sexuality or forced to lead double lives (file image)

Undated family handout photo of Adam Mason (left) with his husband Craig Jones MBE

The Cabinet Office’s review will hear the stories of military personnel who were stripped of their jobs and medals under homophobic laws that were in place until January 12, 2000 

The former Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy was deployed to Northern Ireland during the Troubles and Arabia during the Gulf War. He now lives with his husband Adam Mason in Brighton, Sussex.  

‘I was deputy navigator on HMS Invincible and whenever I brought that ship into port, I always looked at the jetty to see if there was any police on the jetty,’ the 53-year-old said.

‘You can imagine what a huge distraction that is from your professional job, because I was always waiting for day when the police would take me away.

‘But I came out on that day because I felt a sense of duty to the remarkably courageous men and women who fought to lift the ban. 

‘They had lost everything. 

‘They’d lost their health and they’d lost their jobs and they’d lost their pensions and their peace of mind to some extent, but they still fought for justice and for my right, for my opportunity of service in the armed forces.’

Kevin Bazeley was dismissed from his role as an RAF navigator in 1995 under the ban because of his sexuality, and said the experience left an emotional ‘scar’ on him.

The 54-year-old said he successfully took his case for compensation to the European Court of Human Rights but was paid only a ‘symbolic amount’ in damages.

Mr Jones, co-director of LGBT charity Fighting With Pride, said he hopes that following the review the Government provides compensation for lost pensions, issues a full apology on behalf of the nation, and invests in much-needed support services for LGBT veterans

The veteran, now an accountant living in Worcestershire, added: ‘The Royal Air Force was the only career I ever wanted to have, so to have that suddenly stripped from me without warning for something that I had no control over was just crushing, totally humiliating.

‘I was met and escorted off of an aircraft and taken off to the police station and it makes you feel very small and very unwanted.

‘That whole process of my dismissal left a scar on me. I’m still having counselling today for issues that my therapist and I agree dates back to that dismissal.’

Mr Bazeley welcomed the review but said it has been ‘far too long coming’ and the Government must apologise to the veterans.

He said: ‘There are many who are still living with humiliation and the poverty caused by their discharge.

‘It’s been 22 years since the ban was lifted and all of those who suffered deserve their compensation. It’s been far too long coming.

‘I would like to see a personal apology from the Government to all of those veterans who lost their careers and their futures and their friendships, from the nation that they volunteered to serve.’

Defence minister Leo Docherty said the review will ensure the Government learns from veterans’s experiences.

‘While the modern military embraces the LGBT community, it is important that we learn from the experiences of LGBT veterans who were affected by the pre-2000 ban,’ he said.

‘This review will allow the voices of veterans to be heard and importantly will help us better tailor support to the community.’

The Cabinet Office has said the review’s chair will give further details on how veterans will be able to contribute to the review.

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