Veterans 'angry and disappointed' at low numbers of compensation payouts
LGBT veterans dismissed or discharged from the military because of their sexuality have said they feel "angry and disappointed" over the slow pace of compensation payments.
A government scheme to provide financial recognition for historic wrongs has received more than 1,000 applications, but only 24 payouts have been made since it opened five months ago, according to the charity Fighting With Pride.
The scheme, announced in December, set aside up to £75m, with individual payments of up to £70,000 for veterans affected by the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces.
Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting With Pride, said eight of the 24 payments so far have gone to veterans with life-limiting health conditions. He warned that the scheme risks failing the older generation it was designed to help.
"Many affected veterans are in their 60s, 70s and 80s – they are furious justice is being delayed. For many it means justice delayed is justice denied," he said.
"Fighting With Pride will continue to do everything we can to find every single affected LGBT veteran and ensure they get the reparations they deserve."
Mr Gibson has written to Defence Secretary John Healey to express what he called the "growing anger, frustration and impatience" among veterans.
"This scheme is sadly not delivering at a pace which meets the expectations of the ageing veterans we are working with," he wrote, describing a staff of 15 and underperforming technology as "clearly and simply not enough to meet the demand".
"This should have marked a moment of healing and recognition for LGBT+ veterans. Instead, the scheme is beginning to inflict new wounds," he said.
Emma Storey, who left the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1987 after being investigated by military police, said: "We feel angry and disappointed. We were treated abysmally during our service.
"Forced out for our sexuality and loving the people we love, only to be let down by a casual approach to the payments we're owed.
"I'm 64 years old and deserve to enjoy some dignity in the later years of my life.
"After reopening the wounds by applying for the financial recognition scheme, the least I'd expect is to be shown the decency and respect of a prompt resolution."
Fighting With Pride's Mr Gibson said it is "high time the government now pulls out all the stops for these veterans who bravely served their country, yet were appallingly treated for simply being gay".
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We recognise the need to work quickly through the over 1,000 applications for financial recognition we've received.
"The process of working through the applications requires checking a number of information sources and historical records, however, we understand the need for timeliness in delivering this important scheme.
"We are working closely with stakeholder groups and applicants can receive updates on their progress from the team via gov.uk."
Separate government data published this month also showed that 40 people have had historic convictions for same-sex activity wiped from their records since the expanded disregards and pardons scheme came into force in 2023.
The scheme, originally launched in 2012, was extended last year to include women and to cover a wider range of now-repealed offences, including military charges.
Of the 40 convictions removed between June 2023 and March 2024, 35 were for military offences.
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