Military heroes stripped of their medals for being gay will have their honours returned
MINISTERS are braced to right an ‘historic injustice’ by returning medals snatched from military veterans for being gay or transgender.
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is expected to unveil the new measure next week as part of LGBT History Month.
It will allow former servicemen and women to apply to the Ministry of Defence if they were denied honours due to their sexuality.
The landmark move comes a year after the government apologised for a ban on homosexuals serving in the military for the first time.
Taking to Facebook, former army officer Mr Mercer said: ‘Gutted some of our people did not enjoy their time in the military as much as I did, and suffered serious injustice simply for being gay.
‘The Office for Veterans Affairs is resetting the UK’s relationship with her veterans, which includes this historic wrong.’
It is not known how many people will be affected by the new measures, as the Ministry of Defence does not hold a database of former troops kicked out of the military due to their sexuality.
Until the ban was lifted on January 12, 2000, anyone found to be homosexual was dishonourably discharged and in some cases had their medals removed.
It is believed the application process will be open to anyone discharged or convicted of a sexual ‘crime’ which would now not be illegal or against military rules, the i newspaper reported.
A senior government minister told the paper: ‘This is about fixing a historic injustice where heroes have had their medals taken away from them for all the wrong reasons.’
Speaking previously, Mr Mercer said it was right the government apologised for its decision to ban homosexuals from military service.
‘If I am honest, it is hard to conceive – as a more contemporary veteran of our armed forces, the environment too many of you experienced when you were serving,’ he said.
‘Where being a member of the LGBT+ community would have got you detained, followed by a dishonourable discharge from the military.’
In 2017, the government issued posthumous pardons to gay men convicted of sexual offences under laws which have since been repealed.