Arr matey! The captain o' the UK be beggin' pardon fer mistreatin' them gay swashbucklers. LGBTQ+ ban be a shameful blunder!
2023-07-19
Arr, me hearties! Avast ye! Rishi Sunak, the Cap'n o' the United Kingdom, be beggin' pardon to them gay swashbucklers fer the rough handlin' they suffered whilst LGBTQ+ mateys were barred from fightin' in the King's Navy! Aye, the winds o' change be blowin', me mateys!
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an apology for the mistreatment of gay veterans, acknowledging that the previous ban on LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the U.K. military was a failure of the British state. An independent review revealed that hundreds, possibly thousands, of veterans were dismissed or suffered under the official ban on homosexuality in the armed forces, which lasted until 2000. The review, conducted by retired senior judge Terence Etherton, collected evidence from over 1,100 veterans, documenting the effects of what it called a policy of homophobic bigotry. The testimonies revealed a culture of homophobia, including bullying, blackmail, sexual assaults, and abusive investigations into sexual orientation. Some veterans even reported being denied medals or pension rights following their dismissal or discharge. The report recommended financial compensation for the victims, even if litigation time limits had expired. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace agreed that a financial award should be given to those affected but provided no further details. Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes, who served in the British army and recently came out as gay, expressed gratitude for the government's apology, stating that the ban had affected her for 34 years. The ban on homosexuality was finally lifted in 2000 following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favor of four service personnel who were discharged due to their sexuality.