LGBT veterans reject badge until compensation paid

Stephen Close told BBC News "wrongs need to be put right" before he would wear his award

LGBT veterans awarded a special badge to mark the injustice they faced say they will refuse to wear it until the government pays them compensation.

Representatives from the Army, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force attended a ceremony in Westminster on Tuesday to receive the first of thousands of pin badges planned for those who served during 1967-2000, when it was illegal to be gay in the military.

But the group told Defence Secretary John Healey they would not wear the badges until all 49 recommendations of an independent report were enacted, including financial compensation for those affected.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the veterans' decision not to wear the badge.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK in 1967 but a ban continued in the armed forces.

The badge was one of the recommendations Lord Etherton, who conducted an independent review into LGBT veterans' treatment under the ban, said the government should carry out to make reparations.

And the group told the defence secretary they hoped the recommendations would be carried out before 12 January 2025, the 25th anniversary of the ban being lifted.

Former soldier Stephen Close, one of the first veterans to receive the ribbon-shaped badge, at the private ceremony, in Whitehall, central London, said: "These things need to be addressed and the wrongs put right - and then I'll be quite happy to wear the ribbon."

Mr Close, 62, from Salford, welcomed the award as "a symbol of our struggle" but told BBC News the "struggle's not over" so it was "a bit premature".

Stephen Close was sent to military prison after officers found out he had kissed another man

Mr Close was dismissed from the Army after officers found out he had kissed another man while stationed in Berlin in the 1980s.

After interrogation and a "humiliating and degrading medical examination", Mr Close was convicted of gross indecency - a sexual offence - over the kiss, discharged from the Army and sent to military prison for four months.

His convictions were disregarded in 2013, as part of a scheme in England and Wales to allow past convictions for same-sex offences that are no longer criminal to be wiped out.

But Mr Close said he had been "just a broken man" after leaving the Army.

"It wasn't till I got back into civilian life and started looking for work that I discovered I had a convicted sex offence on my record," he said.

"I couldn't get any job whatsoever."

The ribbon-shaped pin badge was handed to the first veterans of thousands eligible for it, in a ceremony in London on Tuesday

The LGBT Veterans Independent Review, led by Britain's first openly gay judge, Lord Etherton, began in 2022 and heard about the experiences of 1,145 veterans.

It included shocking accounts of homophobia, bullying, blackmail, sexual assaults, "disgraceful" medical examinations and conversion therapy.

Lord Etherton's report recommended compensation - capped at £50m in total - be paid to those affected by the ban.

Other recommendations included a special LGBT veterans memorial, the return of medals and berets and the clarification of pension rights.

'Utterly unacceptable'

Mr Healey said the Ministry of Defence was "determined to right those wrongs and renew the nation's contract with those who serve and have served".

“I am proud to present Carl, Stephen and Emma with the very first Etherton Ribbon," he said.

"It symbolises the unique contribution that our LGBT veterans have made to national security and acknowledges the treatment they suffered.

“The historic treatment of LGBT veterans was utterly unacceptable and has no place in today’s armed forces.

"I want to be the first of this government’s ministers to say a deep and profound sorry."

'Many insults'

A National Audit Office report says up to 4,000 veterans are expected to be eligible for compensation, meaning the average payout could be about £12,500.

But Mr Close said: "That wouldn't even pay my credit-card bill.

"I was sentenced at 20 years of age.

"Right up until 50, [I had] a criminal conviction.

"I was unable to save anything - I have no pension, no savings, I've never been on holiday.

"I'm coming up to my retirement now and I've got nothing.

"They've offered me £12,500 for all that?

"We've had many, many insults... and this is just one."

Emma Riley, pictured onboard HMS Cornwall, was dismissed after disclosing her sexuality to a friend

Sailor Emma Riley, 52, awarded the ribbon alongside Mr Close, said: "I can't wear this yet.

"I don't feel it's appropriate and right to put it on until all the recommendations from the independent review are completed - and in particular the harder ones, like the financial compensation.

"It's the harder ones that actually are going to make the most difference to veterans who were literally destroyed - their lives are destroyed."

Craig Jones, from campaign group Fighting with Pride, said the amount offered "risks being seen as an insult".

"It fails to take account of the shocking treatment inflicted upon a community of veterans who defended our peace and freedom but were treated in a way which the prime minister said had brought dishonour on our nation," he added.

Campaigners have also previously raised concerns elderly or ill veterans need compensation paid more quickly.

Veterans Minister Alistair Carns said: “We are committed to ensuring all our veterans who helped keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad receive the respect and support they need.”