Former sailor recalls moment he came out to his ship's captain on day gay ban was lifted

12 January 2000 saw the military ban on lesbian and gay personnel lifted.

For one Royal Navy officer, it was time to end years of living a double life.

Speaking to BFBS Forces News, Lieutenant Commander (Ret'd) Craig Jones has shared his story of what it was like to come out to his shipmates, as the Armed Forces mark 25 years since the ban on lesbian and gay service personnel was lifted.

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"My captain was not a fan of the lifting of the ban. I took him the signal to read, and he was disappointed that he would have to serve with what he described as 'those people'," Mr Jones said.

"In immediate response, I came out," he added.

The former sailor, who is the founder of Fighting With Pride – a charity which supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ veterans who served before the ban being lifted in January 2000  – has described what it was like coming out as gay in the Royal Navy in the video above.