LGBT veterans urged to come forward, as hotspots for missing claimants revealed

LGBT veterans impacted by the historical gay ban in the armed forces are being urged to claim financial redress ahead of a looming deadline, as new data reveals the areas of Britain where the 1,000 missing ex-servicemen and women yet to come forward are believed to live.Unexpectedly low numbers of veterans from the North East of England, Yorkshire, South West England and Scotland have claimed redress for mistreatment under the pre-2000 “gay ban” in the armed forces, according to data from the charity Fighting With Pride.Fewer women veterans are also believed to have come forward than expected, the charity said.LGBT servicemen and women face the ever-nearing deadline of December 12 to apply for the Government’s financial redress scheme, which awards £50,000 discharge payments, and up to £20,000 in additional impact payments.Under the ban, which was in place between 1967 and 2000, men and women in the army, navy, and air force were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.Fighting With Pride, which advocates on behalf of the LGBT forces community, in June launched its “Battle for Lost Veterans” campaign, urging those yet to come forward to apply for financial redress.It believes there are approximately 1,000 people eligible for the scheme yet to have made a claim.Some 65 veterans have made themselves known since the campaign was launched two months ago, but only 19 of these are in areas where there are known to be high populations of military veterans.Some eight of those are from the South West of England, six are from Scotland, four from the North East, and only one from Yorkshire and the Humber.In other areas much higher numbers have come forward, including the North West and South East of England, where 11 veterans apiece have made themselves known since the campaign was launched in June.Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting With Pride, which advocates on behalf of the LGBT forces community (Graeme Rowatt/Fighting With Pride)PA MediaPeter Gibson, Fighting With Pride chief executive, said: “At Fighting With Pride, we’re determined to find every last veteran who’s owed justice. Nobody should be left behind.“As the only LGBTQ+-specific armed forces charity, we will help anyone impacted by the ban to apply for what is rightfully yours, before it’s too late.“If you know anyone who served and suffered under this outrageous historic policy, please help us find everyone. We can be contacted via our Fighting With Pride website. We’re determined to restore pride and dignity in service.”Read MoreThe charity has also called on more women veterans to make applications for the scheme.Some 61% of women who took part in a judge-led inquiry into the ban reported mistreatment under the ban, yet less than half of those who have come forward so far are women.Dawn Loynes, a Royal Navy veteran who was unlawfully dismissed in 1994, encouraged other women to come forward to claim redress.Royal Navy veteran Dawn Loynes, who was unlawfully dismissed in 1994 (Dawn Loynes/PA)PA MediaShe said: “The mistreatment I experienced as a young female sailor had a profound and lasting impact on my life. While nothing can undo what happened, reconnecting with my military family, receiving my beret, and having my experiences recognised have all been important steps in my healing.“I know that for many people affected by the ban, coming forward can feel daunting. Revisiting painful memories and reliving experiences that many have spent years trying to move beyond can be difficult and deeply emotional. Everyone’s journey is different, but it is important to know that you do not have to face that journey alone, and support is available throughout the process.”The veteran added: “If sharing my story gives even one person the confidence to take that first step, then speaking publicly will have been worthwhile.“Your experiences matter, your service matters, and what happened to you deserves to be recognised.“Please do not leave it too late. If you think you may be eligible, I encourage you to explore your options and seek advice soonest.”Almost £20 million of the £75 million the Government has set aside for the redress scheme is yet to be distributed.A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000, which was wholly unacceptable. We are committed to righting these wrongs, including through our Financial Recognition Scheme.“We are working hard to ensure veterans know about the scheme and encourage all those eligible to come forward before the deadline in December. We have allocated £90,000 to charities, and we are working with local councils, the NHS and veterans organisations to promote and support applications.”