Navy veteran wins award for fighting LGBT ban

Emma Riley was a Royal Navy radio operator for three years

An LGBT navy veteran has won an award for her efforts to get a rule banning gay people from the navy overturned by taking the UK to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Emma Riley, who lives in Brighton, was a Royal Navy radio operator for three years before she was arrested and discharged after telling a colleague about her sexuality in the early 1990s.

She has been named Hero of the Year at the British Diversity Awards for her campaigning efforts.

A government spokesperson said the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000 was "wholly unacceptable" and encouraged LGBT veterans to "apply for restorative measures online".

Emma was visited by her family while serving aboard HMS Cornwall

Thousands of veterans are thought to be affected by laws that were in place until 2000 that made it illegal to be gay in the British military.

The LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published last year, said many faced invasive medical examinations, intrusive police investigations and in some cases, as recently as 1996, were sent to prison for their sexuality. Many still have a criminal record to this day.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously called the ban an "appalling failure" of the British state.

Ms Riley took the UK to the ECHR to challenge the ban and helped change the UK law in 2000 to allow LGBT people to serve in the military.

She told Kathy Caton on BBC Radio Sussex that her treatment in the navy was "humiliating and ridiculous" and "incredibly ostracising".

'Pretty horrific'

She said it was "quite mind-blowing" to receive the award.

"I feel I've taken something pretty horrific and tried to make something good," she added.

A government spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000, which was wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today’s Armed Forces, and thank those that have come forward to share their stories.

“We have already implemented over half of the recommendations of the LGBT veterans review and are working at pace to deliver those that remain.

“We will be providing more information as soon as we can and encourage LGBT veterans to apply for restorative measures online.”

The full interview, “Out with Kathy”, is on BBC Radio Sussex at 9pm and on BBC Sounds.