MoD returning medal to bisexual veteran

A FALKLANDS veteran who said he was forced to leave the Royal Navy because of his sexuality is to have his medal returned to him.

Joe Ousalice, who served six tours of Northern Ireland, said he had a medal for long service and good conduct confiscated when he was discharged after revealing his bisexuality before a court martial in 1993.

The 68-year-old added that he had to take the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to court in order to secure the return of the medal.

Mr Ousalice was “treated in a way that would not be acceptable today” and will have the medal returned to him, said an MoD spokesman, who also apologised for his treatment. He added: “We accept our policy in respect of serving homosexuals in the military was wrong, discriminatory and unjust to the individuals involved.”

Gay people were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000.

Mr Ousalice, who had an 18year naval career, is a former radio operator who served in the

Falklands War and the Middle East, as well as his six tours of Northern Ireland.

He said: “I should have always been judged on the basis of my exceptional service and not my sexuality. History has shown us that a person’s sexuality has no bearing on how they perform in times of conflict.

“So many LGBT people were forced out of their wonderful careers and the consequences were devastating.”

The MoD said the medal would be returned in person to Mr Ousalice, who lives in Southampton. It is understood the department is putting in place a scheme to return medals to veterans who were stripped of them in similar circumstances, although it is not known how many people could be affected.