Thousands of LGBTQ personnel in the British military were not only discharged because of their identity but were also stripped of or denied medal they’d earned. Now, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has introduced a new policy to allow former armed forces personnel who were dismissed from service on the basis of their sexuality to apply to have their medals restored.
They will be invited to apply for any medals forfeited due to the historic ban on being homosexual in the military which was not lifted until 2000.
In some circumstances, the families of deceased personnel affected will also be able to apply. The initiative will further address those who were discharged because of their sexuality and lost the opportunity to regain medals