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LGBT veterans impacted by the historical gay ban in the armed forces are being urged to claim financial redress ahead of a looming deadline, as new data reveals the areas of Britain where the 1,000 missing ex-servicemen and women yet to come forward are believed to live.
Unexpectedly low numbers of veterans from the North East of England, Yorkshire, South West England and Scotland have claimed redress for mistreatment under the pre-2000 “gay ban” in the armed forces, according to data from the charity Fighting With Pride.
Fewer women veterans are also believed to have come forward than expected, the charity said.
LGBT servicemen and women face the ever-nearing deadline of December 12 to apply for the Government’s financial redress scheme, which awards £50,000 discharge payments, and up to £20,000 in additional impact payments.
Under the ban, which was in place between 1967 and 2000, men and women in the army, navy, and air force were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.
Fighting With Pride, which advocates on behalf of the LGBT forces community, in June launched its “Battle for Lost Veterans” campaign, urging those yet to come forward to apply for financial redress.
It believes there are approximately 1,000 people eligible for the scheme yet to have made a claim.
Some 65 veterans have made themselves known since the campaign was launched two months ago, but only 19 of these are in areas where there are known to be high populations of military veterans.
Some eight of those are from the South West of England, six are from Scotland, four from the North East, and only one from Yorkshire and the Humber.
In other areas much higher numbers have come forward, including the North West and South East of England, where 11 veterans apiece have made themselves known since the campaign was launched in June.
Peter Gibson, Fighting With Pride chief executive, said: “At Fighting With Pride, we’re determined to find every last veteran who’s owed justice. Nobody should be left behind.
“As the only LGBTQ+-specific armed forces charity, we will help anyone impacted by the ban to apply for what is rightfully yours, before it’s too late.
“If you know anyone who served and suffered under this outrageous historic policy, please help us find everyone. We can be contacted via our Fighting With Pride website. We’re determined to restore pride and dignity in service.”
