Armed Forces: LGBT People

(asked on 17th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications have been (a) received and (b) granted under the scheme allowing former armed forces personnel discharged over sexuality to apply to have service medals restored.


Answered by
Leo Docherty Portrait
Leo Docherty
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
This question was answered on 22nd June 2021

Diversity and Inclusion continues to be a priority for Defence and while we have made encouraging progress, we still have further to go to achieve the essential cultural change necessary to ensure that we are as open, tolerant, fair, and equal as all high-performing organisations need to be. LGBT+ personnel have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the Armed Forces. It is deeply regrettable that, because of their sexuality, some members of the Armed Forces were, in the past, treated in a way that would not be acceptable today.

To date, the Ministry of Defence has received six applications from former Armed Forces personnel who were discharged for reasons related to their sexuality to have their medals restored. All of these applications are under active review by the Department. Each case requires careful consideration of the circumstances and reference to contemporary records - some from several decades ago. All applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

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