Urge your MP to support a fair compensation deal for our veterans who were wrongfully dismissed because of their sexuality.
Please take a minute to write your MP to support an increase in the proposed compensation payments to LGBT+ veterans who suffered horrific treatment before the ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces was lifted in 2000.
Following it's official apology to LGBT+ veterans earlier in this year, we are expecting the Government to shortly lay out how it intends to provide justice to the thousands who were subject to criminal prosecution, imprisonment and wrongful discharge from our Armed Forces before 2000.
Not only did these veterans endure the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment while bravely serving this country, the criminal ban caused long-lasting financial and reputational damage including criminal records, loss of medals and honours, loss of pension entitlements, estrangement from families and friends, forced separation from military society, loss of career, and future employment prospects.
Whilst we support most of the recommendations Lord Etherton’s recent LGBT Veterans Independent Review, the suggested cap of £50 million (estimated to be £20,000 per victim) on the whole compensation pot falls substantially short of what is needed to replace the victim's loss of earnings and pension entitlements, let alone provide feelings of justice or security in later life.
Therefore, we must ask MPs to persuade the Government to take action.
We’ve suggested some text you can use, but please, if you are able, do edit it to make it more personal – we know that MPs are more likely to take notice of personalised emails and queries, which are infinitely more powerful than standard letters.