Individuals, teams and organisations making significant contributions to UK defence and security through exceptional achievement, leadership and inclusion have been celebrated at the 2026 LGBTQ+ Defence Awards.
More than 500 defence and security leaders gathered at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, central London, to recognise outstanding LGBTQ+ talent, along with allies and organisations helping to build a more representative and inclusive defence workforce.
Hosted by comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi, the evening included keynote speeches from Wes Streeting, the UK's first openly gay Defence Secretary, 14-time Paralympic gold medallist and Britain's most decorated LGBTQ+ athlete, Sir Lee Pearson, and Polly Miller-Perkins, the UK's first Armed Forces Commissioner.
Role models for the next generation
Speaking at the event, Mr Streeting said: "Tonight we stand on the shoulders of giants, in defiance of those who do not accept who we are, or who we love, or how we present ourselves to the world, in defence of the values of freedom, equality, and democracy – the things that make this country great.
"And particularly this evening to celebrate those of you whose stars have shone most brightly and whom we all look to as role models.
"In the space of a single generation, we have gone from a Britain where gay people could be dismissed from the Armed Forces simply for being who they are, to a Britain where a gay man can lead the Ministry of Defence.
"But my social media feeds demonstrate on a daily basis that there will always be those who would prefer to cling on to the prejudices of the past – the prejudice that says that to be gay or lesbian or bisexual or trans or non-binary is to be weak."
Addressing young LGBTQ+ people in the cadets, as well as those considering a career in the Armed Forces or defence industry, Mr Streeting said he wanted them to know that the country welcomes them, and values "their talent, their commitment, and their courage".
"I'm glad that that generation has, in this room, role models they can look up to, people who have served with distinction, people who have made their units stronger, their colleagues prouder and their country safer," the Defence Secretary said.
Thanking organisers and sponsors of the awards ceremony, he added: "Because of you, generations yet to come will never have to ask whether they belong – they will simply know."
THE WINNERS
Advocate of the Year
Commander Mandy McBain OBE, Royal Navy
Ally of the Year
Sergeant Dean Anderson, Royal Air Force
Armed Forces Leader of the Year
Captain Sam Kinsey-Briggs, Royal Navy
Inspiration of the Year
Lance Corporal Santosh Magar, British Army
LGBTQ+ Network or Initiative of the Year (Public Sector / Non-Profit)
LGBTQ+ Armed Forces Community Memorial
LGBTQ+ Network or Initiative of the Year (Industry)
Thales LGBTQ+ Network, Thales UK
LGBTQ+ Trailblazer of the Year
Chaplain Jacob Caldwell, British Army
Outstanding Achiever of the Year
Joshua Fawcett, Ministry of Defence
Rising Star of the Year
Lance Corporal Liam Cole, British Army
Role Model of the Year
Bex Page, Babcock
Team Leader of the Year
AB1 Cole Scahill, Royal Navy
Tech Leader of the Year
Elaine Fraser, Thales UK
Veteran of the Year
Sharon Pickering, RN LGBTQ+ Network
Icing on the cake
Speaking to BFBS Forces News after being named Armed Forces Leader of the Year, Cpt Sam Kinsey-Briggs spoke of her shock and delight.
"I was not expecting it at all," she said. "This is really just the end of my journey of my service as a regular, but I think it's just the start of the next chapter of my book."
Leaving the Royal Navy next year after a 29-year career, she described receiving the award as "the icing on the cake".
"I joined in 1998 [and] it was illegal to be gay in the Armed Forces," she explained. "I'm here tonight with my wife, all the veterans that were dismissed, celebrating them, all the hard work that we've done to change things.
"I couldn't be prouder to be here."
Back-to-back award
Having also won the Rising Star award last year, LCpl Liam Cole said it was a massive privilege "to be able to hold this title and carry on this honour".
"You should never doubt yourself," he said, in his message to the LGBTQ+ community within the defence force.
"When I joined the Army, I didn't think I was going to be good enough," he said. "I didn't think I was manly enough – I thought I was too camp, I thought I was too gay.
"Keep going for what you want to achieve. Don't let anyone stop you or get in your way, and if they do get in your way, push them out of the way."
He added that he hopes his award will inspire the next generation to fight for what they believe in, and urged them to continue being "actively LGBTQ+ within the Armed Forces".
"Without the diversity and inclusion we have, we aren't anything," he added. "I really hope that me being here, me being who I am, just inspires other people to do the same."
The awards are proudly supported by a roster of leading employers, including BAE Systems, Thales, AirTanker, Amazon, Babcock, MBDA and PA Consulting.
The winners were chosen by an independent judging panel comprising senior figures from the Ministry of Defence, British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, DE&S, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Imperial College London, Royal College of Emergency Medicine and Scottish Prison Service.
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