22 July 2023 , 18:17
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Dame Kelly Holmes has joined LGBT+ armed forces veterans in welcoming Rishi Sunak's apology for the shameful treatment of troops under the military gay ban.
As many as 20,000 were jailed, dismissed for their sexuality or outed against their will before the rule on service was lifted in 2000.
Last week, in line with a recommendation by a damning report on the issue, the PM finally said sorry in a victory for campaigners and the charity Fighting With Pride.
Dame Kelly – who came out as gay last year, aged 52 – has told of her horrific experiences in the Army during the 1990s.
They included a search of her barracks by military police looking for people suspected of being gay, which left her “traumatised” and “afraid to ever live my authentic self and admit to being a gay woman”.
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The Olympic gold medal-winning runner said: “The apology by the Prime Minister was long overdue.”
Former Naval radio officer Emma Riley, who took the UK to the European Court of Human Rights in 1998 and helped overturn the ban, was watching Wednesday’s apology from the Commons viewing gallery.
Emma, arrested and discharged in the 1990s after confiding in someone that she might be gay, said it was a “huge moment”, adding: “It took more than two decades since the ban was lifted. We are no longer forgotten, no longer buried as a dark and disgusting secret.”
Emma in the 1990s when she was a Royal Navy radio operator
Former Navy elite helicopter pilot Simon Langley"It took more than two decades since the ban was lifted for the plight of veterans like me to be reviewed. 20+ years of being swept under the carpet, ignored and left to rot,
"Having our history, experiences and enormous pain acknowledged and apologised for, hearing that the Armed Services and government that perpetuated institutional bullying will now be held accountable to finally support LBGT+ Veterans, is a relief.
“We are no longer forgotten, never more buried as a dark and disgusting secret.”
Defence Secretary and ex-Army officer Ben Wallace also spoke to MPs – and Emma said she wept to hear his “heartfelt apology…being open about who he used to be in comparison with who he is now”.
Simon Langley, who was an elite Navy helicopter pilot and served for 13 years, resigned his commission after meeting and falling in love with the man who is now his husband.
“When I joined, I thought I might be gay, but wasn’t certain. For a number of years I successfully managed to navigate my career by avoiding entering into any sort of personal relationships,” he told this newspaper.
“The ban had basically destroyed my career, like it did so many others.”
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Simon Langley piloting a helicopter while he was servingA further debate on the report will follow in September - but Simon is hopeful the remaining recommendations in the report, including the matter of compensation, will be addressed.
“I think there's a there's a recognition that 23 years have passed since the law was changed, and nothing's been done,” he said.
“And that's to the eternal shame of governments of all stripes. I think they recognise that there are going to be been fights over money - as soon as anybody says to the Treasury, then it's like, ‘oh God, here we go’.
“But actually, I think, and I know that government will work with us on some of the things that are going to be more difficult.”
Mr Sunak called the ban an “appalling failure” of the state. He spoke as a report on the experiences of gay personnel revealed bullying, blackmail, sexual assaults and use of conversion therapy and electro-shock treatment. Prepared by Lord Ether-ton, Britain’s first openly gay judge, it recommends compensation capped at £50million overall, restoration of medals and a special veterans’ badge.
The Government is to respond fully after the summer recess.
Fighting With Pride CEO Craig Jones said defence minister Andrew Murrison had been a “quiet and fantastic supporter” of the campaign.
He now he feels hopeful that the military will be able to move on from this “skeleton in the closet”.
“The United Kingdom is committed to being the best place in the world to be a veteran,” he said. “And we've committed to being a global exemplar for LGBT+ rights.
“And neither of those were possible. Unless we went back to look for our LGBT+ veterans and care them.”
He added: “We are hugely grateful to the Sunday Mirror for their support of this campaign.”