LGBT veterans lay a wreath at the Cenotaph for the first time

This Remembrance Sunday, Minister for Equalities Mike Freer will meet the first LGBT veterans to openly lay a wreath at the Cenotaph as part of the Remembrance Service.

21 years ago the ban was lifted on lesbian, gay and bisexual people serving in the UK military. Before this ruling, private lives could be scrutinised, belongings searched and dishonourable discharges issued if evidence was found.

For the first time, LGBT veterans will be openly invited to the Cenotaph for the National Service of Remembrance as their own group.

Elaine Chambers will lay a wreath on the Cenotaph. She is the co-founder of campaigning and support group Rank Outsiders, which campaigned for the lifting of the ban on LGBT Armed Forces personnel decades ago.

Elaine founded the group in 1991, which supported dismissed LGBT veterans who were turned away by military charities because they had been ‘Dismissed in Disgrace’.

A lot has changed since the ban was lifted. The Ministry of Defence has launched a policy to allow LGBT veterans to apply for their medals back if they were dismissed for their sexuality, righting this historic wrong.

Today, each of the four services (Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Defence Civil Service) have their own thriving LGBT Network.

This historical event comes ahead of the UK hosting its first global LGBT conference in June 2022. As announced by the Government earlier this year, the theme of the event will be ‘Safe to Be Me’, with an aim to make progress on legislative reforms against violence and discrimination, and protect and promote the equal rights of LGBT people from around the world.

The global event will bring together elected officials, policy makers, and the international LGBT community to protect and promote the rights of LGBT people around the world.

Minister for Equalities, Mike Freer, said:

“I am proud and moved to be part of this historic event, which will see our LGBT veterans at last able to be open about who they are, as they honour their fellow service men and women.

“It is right that we remember the sacrifice made by every member of our Armed Forces, who gave us freedom and peace. I am proud to stand alongside Fighting with Pride, and every LGBT veteran.”