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UK’s Rishi Sunak apologises to LGBTQ military veterans abused before end of homosexuality ban
- Before the UK lifted the ban in 2000, many gay people had sought to hide their sexuality or risk being discharged from the armed forces
- A review of testimonies of LGBT veterans who served between 1967 and 2000 showed that they endured sexual abuse, violence, bullying and harassment
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised on Wednesday to LGBTQ military veterans who endured sexual abuse, violence, bullying and harassment while serving in the armed forces before a ban on homosexuality was lifted in 2000.
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Britain lifted the ban only after the European Court of Human Rights rejected an argument that it was needed to protect morale and fighting power among its troops, saying the policy had violated human rights.
Before that, many gay people had sought to hide their sexuality or risk being discharged from the armed forces.
An independent review was launched last year to examine the testimonies of LGBT veterans who served between 1967 and 2000 to recognise the impact of the policies. The review was published on Wednesday.
Sunak told a full House of Commons chamber on Wednesday that the ban had been an “appalling failure of the British state”.
“As today’s report makes clear, in that period many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment while bravely serving this country,” he said.
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“On behalf of the British state, I apologise.”
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