Over £31 million paid to 949 wrongfully dismissed LGBT veterans
The Ministry of Defence has doubled its payments team and brought in an automated processing system to speed up applications to the Financial Recognition Scheme
Over £31 million has been paid to 949 LGBT veterans as the government ramps up compensation for those affected by the ban on gay people serving in the armed forces.
The Ministry of Defence has doubled its payments team and brought in an automated processing system to speed up applications to the Financial Recognition Scheme.
The ban, which remained in place until 2000 – long after homosexuality was decriminalised – saw thousands dismissed from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. Many of them were hounded, bullied, outed against their will or even imprisoned because of their sexuality.
READ MORE: Lift compensation cap for LBGT veterans hounded and jailed in shameful ban, ministers toldREAD MORE: LGBT veterans compensation to be sped up after fury at ‘painfully slow’ process
Louise Sandher-Jones MP, Minister for Veterans and People said: “The way that LGBT personnel were treated between 1967 and 2000 was shameful. Our Government is determined to deal with the historic injustices suffered by LGBT personnel.
“It is essential that we provide support quickly, which is why we have doubled the resources allocated to the Financial Recognition Scheme. We will continue to support our veterans as we work to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.”
The scheme recognises the unacceptable treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000. It closes in December 2026, and more LGBT veterans are now being urged to come forward. Priority has been given to elderly applicants, those with serious health conditions, and individuals facing significant financial hardship.
For many years the Mirror has supported Fighting With Pride’s campaign for LGBT Veterans to get the recognition, support and compensation they deserve.
Claire Ashton, a trans woman who served as gunner in the Royal Artillery who was bullied as early as 1969, when she was still in basic training, called the payments the “end of a long journey”. She told The Sunday Mirror: “It’s not the financial recognition, it’s the Government and the Ministry of Defence finally saying they were in the wrong, that’s the most important thing.”
Earlier this year King Charles laid flowers at a new memorial to LGBT+ armed forces veterans in recognition of former servicemen and women affected by the ban on service. Attending the event, Ms Ashton added: “The King being there, that was marvellous because it put the Royal stamp on it, and made it a very special day for lots and lots of people. All of us veterans signed up for the armed forces over the years, and given half a chance, half of us would be back there now.”
The LGBTQ+ Armed Forces charity, Fighting With Pride, welcomed the progress, but said more needed to be done. Chief Executive Peter Gibson said: “The speed of the Impact Panel decisions needs to improve, we remain concerned about those Veterans who were effectively constructively dismissed, and also for those veterans dismissed before 1967 who are excluded from even non financial reparations.
“The Government need to up their game and put some proper resources into a publicity campaign to make people aware otherwise thousands will miss out”.
