Call for justice for service personnel

Bisexual Navy veteran dismissed over his sexuality leads the fight

AROYAL Navy veteran has called for all servicemen and women kicked out of the armed forces because of their sexuality to be given a pardon and to have their full pensions restored.

Joe Ousalice, 70, lost his home in Cornwall and contemplated jumping from the Tamar Bridge after he was dismissed from the service because he was bisexual.

He made the call for justice for others who were similarly treated, after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that veterans who were dismissed in this way can now reclaim the medals that were stripped from them.

Gay people and other members of the LGBTQ community were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000, even though homosexuality was made legal in civilian life more than 30 years earlier.

The MoD’s announcement came after Mr Ousalice successfully took the department to court to have his medal returned. The MoD said it wanted to address a “historical wrong” with the launch of the scheme. Veterans minister and Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer is backing the move.

But Mr Ousalice said the Government should go further by issuing pardons and ensuring those affected receive their full pension. He said the injustice “makes my blood boil.”

ANAVAL veteran who was kicked out of the armed forces for being bisexual in the 1990s and who lost everything, including his home in Cornwall, has said he was left stealing from farmers’ fields to survive.

Joe Ousalice, 70, lost his family and livelihood almost overnight after being court-martialled in November 1993, as well as having his pension cut.

He made the comments following the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) announcement that veterans who were dismissed from service because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals stripped from them.

Mr Ousalice, who is now living in Southampton, had his medal for long service and good conduct confiscated when he was discharged.

The MoD’s announcement comes after Mr Ousalice successfully took it to court to have his medal returned.

The MoD said it wanted to address a “historical wrong” with the launch of the scheme.

Gay people and other members of the LGBTQ community were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000.

Mr Ousalice told the Today programme that he had been courtmartialled on a separate matter, of which he was cleared, but found guilty of “conduct prejudicial to the good order and naval discipline” for his sexuality.

The former radio operator had an 18-year naval career in the Navy and served in the Falklands War and the Middle East, as well as six tours of Northern Ireland. He described his treatment as “absolutely disgusting”.

“I was taken to the captain of HMS Portland Naval Base and told in no uncertain terms how disgusting people such as I had no place in the armed forces,” he said.

Mr Ousalice added: “They just chucked me out with no back up, no support from anybody, I had no money coming in. I lost my house in Cornwall, I lost my family, I was looking for work left, right and centre and basically I was pinching food from farmers’ fields to survive.”

A Gov.uk statement said that prior to 2000 a number of armed forces personnel were discharged on the basis of their sexuality and some forfeited medals, adding: “The MoD is committed to addressing this historical wrong and is introducing a policy which enables individuals to apply to have their medals restored.”