A campaign to help older LGBT+ veterans who were stigmatised by the armed forces community has been launched by Age Scotland.
A guide which sets out support available has been published to coincide with yesterday’s Armed Forces Day, Pride Month and the 21st anniversary of the ending of the ban on LGBT+ people serving openly in the armed forces.
The Ministry of Defence recently introduced a policy to allow former armed forces personnel, dismissed from service solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to apply to have their medals restored.
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Craig Jones, 53, a Royal Navy veteran who served in Rosyth and Faslane in the 1990s before the ban on serving openly was lifted, said: “I met my husband while I was in the Navy, but I could never mention him – I felt that I was hiding a huge part of my life.
“I came out on the day the ban was lifted, but it took a long time for the culture to change. I realise that I was relatively lucky. Others lost their jobs, homes and pensions, and some were even sent to prison.”
Charlie Wallace, the Scottish Veterans’ Commissioner, said: “It is hard to imagine that during my lifetime, service personnel were forced to resign or were dishonourably discharged, solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Doug Anthoney, Age Scotland’s Veterans’ project coordinator, said: “I invite older veterans who are LGBT+ to make the most of opportunities and extra support on offer to them, which they can read about in this new guide.”
The guide is available by calling Age Scotland on 0800 12 44 222.
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