Serving With Pride

In January 2000, the ban on LGBTQ personnel serving in the British Armed Forces was lifted, ending their forced removal. These shocking and deeply moving accounts of their time in service and their lives beyond describe a shameful breach of the Armed Forces Covenant, the nation’s promise that those who stand to protect our peace and freedom, shall be supported in their need. Many served prison sentences for being ‘gay’, others lost families, homes, jobs they loved and have spent decades in the dark shadow of the ban. Some were not even gay. Today these veterans are recognised as heroes, but far too long they were a part of the military family, that dare not speak its name. The battle to unravel the damage done by the ‘gay ban’ has defined the life of Craig Jones MBE, who led serving communities as the ban was lifted in 2000 and today is a very determined champion of Fighting With Pride’s campaign for justice.