War Studies

Up until 2000 it was illegal in Britain to be LGBTQ+ and serve in the armed forces. If suspected of being gay service personnel would be interrogated, imprisoned, dismissed in disgrace and stripped of their livelihoods, medals and ultimately their dignity Over 20 years on what was the impact of this ban on LGBTQ+ people in the armed forces? And what is being done to bring justice and support to those veterans who were suffered criminalisation and shame as a result of their sexuality?  In this special LGBT+ History Month episode we talk to Lieutenant Commander Craig Jones, Joint Chief Executive of Fighting with Pride, a charity that supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ veterans, service personnel and their families. Craig discusses the pre-2000 ban on homosexuals in the British Armed Forces and his own experiences as a gay man serving in the Royal Navy. A time filled with anxiety, he grappled with the reality of 'living in the shadows' to avoid being arrested, criminalised and 'dismissed in d