7 November 2008
The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that it has paid £4 million in
compensation to 65 former service personnel who were booted out of the
armed forces because of their homosexuality.
The average payout was £61,500.
The ban on gays in the British military was overturned in 1999, after
the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was a violation of a
person's right to a private life under Article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights.
"These payouts are small compensation to people who were often
subjected to degrading interrogation and detention, and who lost their
job and service accommodation. They ended up unemployed and homeless,"
said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group, OutRage!, who
campaigned for three decades to end the ban on gay and lesbian people
serving in the armed forces.
"For many gay and lesbian service personnel, dismissal from the
military destroyed their distinguished careers and caused them immense
financial and emotional suffering.
"Although this monetary compensation package is welcome and long
overdue, what's really important is the official recognition that a
grave injustice was done to these people and to hundreds of other
dismissed lesbian and gay soldiers, sailors and air crews," said Mr
Tatchell.
The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that it has paid £4 million in
compensation to 65 former service personnel who were booted out of the
armed forces because of their homosexuality.
The average payout was £61,500.
The ban on gays in the British military was overturned in 1999, after
the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was a violation of a
person's right to a private life under Article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights.
"These payouts are small compensation to people who were often
subjected to degrading interrogation and detention, and who lost their
job and service accommodation. They ended up unemployed and homeless,"
said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group, OutRage!, who
campaigned for three decades to end the ban on gay and lesbian people
serving in the armed forces.
"For many gay and lesbian service personnel, dismissal from the
military destroyed their distinguished careers and caused them immense
financial and emotional suffering.
"Although this monetary compensation package is welcome and long
overdue, what's really important is the official recognition that a
grave injustice was done to these people and to hundreds of other
dismissed lesbian and gay soldiers, sailors and air crews," said Mr
Tatchell.
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