• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
Veterans should never have been stripped of medals over their sexuality – we have to make amends

Veterans should never have been stripped of medals over their sexuality – we have to make amends

February 17, 2021
Veterans Day Message from President Trump

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

August 1, 2022
Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

August 1, 2022
#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

August 1, 2022
Trump supporters attempt world record boat parade near Clearwater Beach

Trump supporters attempt world record boat parade near Clearwater Beach

August 1, 2022
Veteran honored for once-secret role in WWII ‘Ghost Army’

Veteran honored for once-secret role in WWII ‘Ghost Army’

August 1, 2022
Helping a Fellow Vet with Disability Claim : Veterans

Helping a Fellow Vet with Disability Claim : Veterans

July 31, 2022
Table Tennis 1. European Championship1995 Vienna (Wien)Veterans Orlovwki Dvoracek Tischtennis

Table Tennis 1. European Championship1995 Vienna (Wien)Veterans Orlovwki Dvoracek Tischtennis

July 31, 2022
Low-Cost Tech Shaping Modern Battlefield > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

Low-Cost Tech Shaping Modern Battlefield > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

July 31, 2022
The Army won’t lower its standards again to meet recruitment goals

The Army won’t lower its standards again to meet recruitment goals

July 31, 2022
Coast Guard veteran held without bail in ID theft mystery

Coast Guard veteran held without bail in ID theft mystery

July 31, 2022
British Normandy Memorial opens on D-Day anniversary

British Normandy Memorial opens on D-Day anniversary

July 31, 2022
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Stories

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Stories

July 31, 2022
Thursday, September 28, 2023
  • PRESS RELEASE
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
198 Veterans News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Global Veterans
  • USA Veterans
  • EU Veterans
  • Canadian Veterans
  • Australian Veterans
  • Asia Veterans
  • African Veterans
  • Veteran Supports
  • More
    • Global Veteran Supports
    • Veterans Nonprofits
    • Veterans Sponsors
    • Sponsorship
    • Veteran Blogs
    • Veteran Books
    • VIP videos of Veterans
198 Veterans News
No Result
View All Result
Home USA Veteran News

Veterans should never have been stripped of medals over their sexuality – we have to make amends

by The Editor
February 17, 2021
in USA Veteran News
251 3
0
Veterans should never have been stripped of medals over their sexuality – we have to make amends
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

[ad_1]



It still shocks and appals me that, just a couple of years before I signed up in 2002, anyone found to be gay in the military would have faced a dishonourable discharge.

Thankfully, times have moved on and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reversed this discriminatory policy. Since the lifting of the ban in 2000, anyone who joins the services from the LGBT community will discover Defence is a much more welcoming environment. Today we regard our diversity as one of our greatest strengths. We have an LGBT Champion and a range of active military and civilian staff networks that support LGBT personnel.

Same-sex couples have been able to co-habit in all service accommodation since last year. We’ve celebrated as personnel from all three services marched with their civilian counterparts in Pride events. We’ve illuminated our main building in Whitehall with rainbow colours to recognise the value of our LGBT colleagues.

But while Defence has come a long way, not all of our veterans have been able to move on. Consider the case of veteran Joe Ousalice. He served on board the MV Myrmidon as part of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands after the Argentinean invasion in 1982. His career included six tours of duty in Northern Ireland and secondment to a Nato task force. But, despite a distinguished career, Joe’s hard earned medals for long service and good conduct were shamefully taken away from him as a result of his sexuality.

We can’t turn the clock back but we can make amends. That’s why last year, 27 years after his medals were confiscated, the defence secretary personally handed Ousalice his medal back. Sadly, Joe’s experience is not unique. Others have forfeited medals too.

Read more

So, as we celebrate our LGBT heroes this month, we pledge to do more than praise their enormous contribution to our armed forces. We vow to restore the respect of all those wronged individuals.

For some time MoD has been working hard to rectify the complex legal and practical issues surrounding this unfair medal policy. As a result, from today, we are inviting any personnel affected or, in some cases, the families of those no longer with us, to apply to have their cherished medals returned. All those who believe they are eligible should visit the gov.uk website for further details.

We are also going further. We want to understand the full impact of past in the armed forces in relation to sexuality. In particular, I want to hear from those who suffered because of these policies what else we can do, beyond the return of medals, to address historic discrimination and injustice.

And we’re doing more to make the armed forces of today a more welcoming place. We continue to update our training so our personnel can better understand the experiences of transgender and intersex people and encourage colleagues to be better allies with the LGBT community.

Whenever I hear of personnel who didn’t enjoy their time in the military as much as I did, I am gutted. But when I heard of those whose service was blighted by the bigotry of the past, I am truly ashamed. It’s time to make amends for that unenlightened chapter in our history once and for all.

Our past policies were wrong. Yet the men and women who paid the price for those bad decisions have become role models not just for today’s but for tomorrow’s armed forces. They demonstrated bravery twice over – contending with institutional intolerance even while they fought for their country. Returning them overdue respect and recognition is the least they deserve.

[ad_2]

Source link

Tags: amendsmedalssexualitystrippedVeterans
Share198Tweet124Send
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Desmond inquiry: Lionel Desmond’s case manager at Veterans Affairs begins testimony – Halifax

Desmond inquiry: Lionel Desmond’s case manager at Veterans Affairs begins testimony – Halifax

June 22, 2021
Nicholas Charles Revello Plaintiff V.s Keren Laina Sangalaza Defendant

Nicholas Charles Revello Plaintiff V.s Keren Laina Sangalaza Defendant

February 23, 2021
Afghans, Canadian veterans in Alberta fear Taliban takeover will undo years of progress

Afghans, Canadian veterans in Alberta fear Taliban takeover will undo years of progress

August 14, 2021

Hello world!

1

Lady Gaga Pulled Off One of the Best Halftime Shows Ever

0

Barack Obama’s Now Mainly Focusing on Wearing This Casual Backwards Hat

0
Veterans Day Message from President Trump

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

August 1, 2022
Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

August 1, 2022
#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

August 1, 2022
198 Veterans News

Own and operated by The Ike Lemuwa Group, LLC a Commonwealth of Virginia Limited Liability Company, USA.
Info@nigeriasmartnews.com / info@ikelemuwagroup.com
Toll-Free: 1 888 642 8433
3821 Dominion Drive Dumfries, Virginia, 22026. USA

Trending News

Nicholas Charles Revello Plaintiff V.s Keren Laina Sangalaza Defendant

Troops En Route to Afghanistan Aim to Help Remove Civilians, Pentagon Official Says > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

The Favorite Receivers of Miami Dolphins Quarterback Dan Marino

How to Teach Yourself to Speak English

Claiming a presumptive without knowing it

Recent News

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

Trump supporters attempt world record boat parade near Clearwater Beach

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Policy
  • T & C
  • Contact

198 Veterans News - Copyright AllRights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Global Veterans
  • USA Veterans
  • EU Veterans
  • Canadian Veterans
  • Australian Veterans
  • Asia Veterans
  • African Veterans
  • Veteran Supports
  • More
    • Global Veteran Supports
    • Veterans Nonprofits
    • Veterans Sponsors
    • Sponsorship
    • Veteran Blogs
    • Veteran Books
    • VIP videos of Veterans

198 Veterans News - Copyright AllRights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In