A man holds a rainbow flag, an emblem of the LGBT community, during a demonstration against homophobia.
(illustration) -
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP
Former British soldiers, fired from the army because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, will be able to recover their lost medals.
This is what the British Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.
Until 2000, LGBT + people could not serve in the British Army.
According to the
Guardian
, 200 to 250 soldiers were fired per year, losing the medals received during their careers.
The Ministry of Defense now wants to "remedy this historic wrong" by putting in place "a policy allowing these people to demand the return of their medals".
A "more in-depth" investigation still necessary
The soldiers concerned (or their relatives in the event of death) can request the examination of their cases by the Defense Council and will be decorated with a new medal if their file is approved.
Boris Johnson rejoiced on Twitter for this change to repair "this very great injustice".
The news was greeted by the association "Fighting with Pride".
The latter, however, calls for a more in-depth investigation into "the long-term consequences" of the dismissal of these LGBT + soldiers on their "health, their housing and their employment".
“Many still live in poverty today,” said Fighting with Pride.
In 2020, Falklands War veteran Joe Ousalice obtained the return of his confiscated medal when he was forced to leave the Royal Navy due to his sexual orientation.
After 18 years of military career, the septuagenarian had been deprived of his medal after being sentenced by a court martial in 1993 for his bisexuality.
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