The UK government has now disbursed more than £31 million to nearly a thousand military veterans who were wrongfully dismissed due to their sexuality, as efforts intensify to address a historic injustice.
MoD Ramps Up Compensation Process
In a bid to accelerate the redress, the Ministry of Defence has doubled the size of its payments team and introduced an automated processing system for the Financial Recognition Scheme. This move aims to tackle previous criticism that the application process was moving too slowly for those affected.
The scheme provides compensation to personnel who suffered due to the ban on gay individuals serving in the British armed forces, a policy that remained enforced until the year 2000. This was decades after homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK.
A Shameful Legacy of Persecution
For over three decades, between 1967 and 2000, thousands of service members from the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF were forced out of their careers. Many faced relentless bullying, were outed against their will, subjected to invasive investigations, or even imprisoned solely because of their sexuality.
Louise Sandher-Jones MP, the Minister for Veterans and People, stated: "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," she added.
Veterans Urged to Come Forward Before Deadline
The compensation scheme, which formally acknowledges the unacceptable treatment endured, is set to close in December 2026. Officials are now urging more eligible veterans to apply. Priority in processing is being given to:
- Elderly applicants.
- Those with serious health conditions.
- Individuals experiencing significant financial hardship.
For veteran Claire Ashton, a trans woman who served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery and faced bullying as early as 1969, the payment represents closure. "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," she told The Sunday Mirror.
Ms Ashton also highlighted the significance of King Charles laying flowers at the National Memorial Arboretum's LGBT+ veterans memorial earlier this year, calling it a "marvellous" act that provided a "Royal stamp" on the acknowledgment.
While welcoming the progress, the LGBTQ+ Armed Forces charity Fighting With Pride has called for further action. Chief Executive Peter Gibson pointed out ongoing concerns, including the need for faster decision-making and the exclusion of veterans dismissed before 1967 from any form of reparation.
"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," Gibson urged.
