Righting all wrongs done to gay service personnel is long overdue

PLYMOUTH MP Johnny Mercer is right to describe the decision to allow service personnel to reclaim medals that were taken from them because of their sexuality as “addressing an historic injustice.” But those who were affected have even greater justification for saying that the move does not go far enough.

You do not have to be very old to have witnessed enormous changes in the attitudes of society, institutions and the law to the sexuality of individuals. Within living memory gay people had to hide their way of life away. Those who were “found out” were often punished. Some took their own lives.

Thankfully the law was changed in 1967, lifting the threat of prosecution from those in the gay community, but it took many more years – until 2000 – for those individuals to be allowed to serve in the military. It is difficult to understand that 30 year gap and the heartache and unfairness it caused.

One of those affected was Royal Navy serviceman Joe Ousalice. He lost everything, including his home in Cornwall, when he was court martialled in November 1993. Homosexual behaviour had long since been decriminalised in civilian society in the UK, but many servicemen found themselves discharged, stripped of medals and deprived of pension and other rights.

Mr Ousalice, whose 18-year naval career included six tours of Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the Middle East, said the Government should go further by issuing pardons and ensuring those affected receive their full pension.

The former radio operator said: “It really does make my blood boil to think of the way I was treated, it had such an adverse effect on my life for 10 years.

“I would like a pardon from Her Majesty the Queen and for all the others who have been discharged because of their sexuality. They have been kicked out because they are gay or bisexual, they have not done anything wrong.”

He called for full pensions to be reinstated, explaining that his discharge meant he received £100 less per month. He added he was prepared to return to court if the Government failed to act.

His ordeal had him contemplating suicide. “I even went to the Tamar Bridge and tried to jump off – that’s the effect it had on me. It took 10 years to get my bank balance up to scratch,” he said.

Thankfully this does not look like the end of the story for LGBT+ military veterans who are fighting for proper recognition of their military service and, where appropriate, the return of rights and privileges of which they have been deprived. Their representatives are working with the Office for Veterans Affairs. Veterans minister Mr Mercer needs to engage with them too, to continue the process of righting the wrongs done to them in the past.

Returning medals to those who had to forfeit them for the “crime” of being gay or bisexual is important and symbolic. But there are practical measures that need to follow and the sooner that can happen the better for the military and society.