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a MilitaRy tale
RIGHTS AND RESOURCES
What support is out there for LGBT personnel?
The armed forces in the UK have been working to
support the LGBT community since the law changed in
2000, allowing personnel to be openly gay. Similarly in
America, openly LGBT individuals have been able to
serve since 2011, when the US congress repealed the
‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.
Stonewall, the charity that campaigns on behalf of
gay, lesbian and bisexual rights, has named the Royal
Navy one of its top 100 employers, and the Ministry of
Justice has also become a ‘most improved employer’ in
its 2014 Workplace Equality Index.
It’s your right to serve openly as an LGBT
serviceman or woman, without the worry of being
subjected to discrimination based on sexual
orientation. It is also not allowed for anyone to
pressure you to come out should you not be in the
position to, for whatever reason.
There are a number of resources that you can use
to find support and guidance for coming out or coping
with any issues that you might encounter.
FORCESLINE
is a free, confidential helpline for current
and former military personnel.
Visit
http://www.ssafa.org.uk/how-we-help/forcesline
www.ssafa.org.uk/how-we-help/forcesline
or call 0800 731 4880
PROUD2SERVE
is a website and forum dedicated to
offering guidance and the opportunity to talk to others
in your situation.
Visit www.proud2serve.net
THE EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
promotes and monitors human rights and protects,
enforces and promotes equality across seven protected
grounds, of which sexual orientation is one.
Visit www.equalityhumanrights.com
STONEWALL UK
is the leading UK gay, lesbian and
bisexual rights charity.
Visit www.stonewall.org.uk
our progress; from our engagement to our views on gay
marriage being legalised – and even following us on our
wedding day.
Luckily Joshua hasn’t had to deal with me going
away for a long period of time yet, and though he says
he ‘can’t wait for the peace and quiet!’ I know once I’m
away, things will be hard and he will be lonely. But with
the support of great LGBT groups and friends and family
to get him through, those lonely days and nights should
fly by for him.
Discrimination and negative comments happen
throughout the world every second of the day and you
will always get a few pre-2000 personnel, who served
when it was illegal to be a gay man in the Navy, raising
their eyebrows. Luckily, to this day I have had nothing
but support and, if anything, extra support to help me
get to where I am today. I believe the Royal Navy has
moved with the times – it’s up with the top runners as
one of the best jobs to have as a gay man.
*****
Joining the Navy has been one of the best experiences I
could ever have had. Being gay in the forces hasn’t
changed me or even made me want to be someone who
I’m not – I’ve only felt supported and I believe this will
continue to grow and strengthen as time goes by.
I think that anyone who feels that being a part of
the LGBT community will hinder their progression
through the ranks or single them out is wrong. They
need to understand that not only is the job an
experience, but an equal and very diverse opportunity,
which will support you in whatever sexual preference
you have or whatever gender you are.
The future for Joshua and I will be to start our own
family and build on the love and bond we both have for
each other. The Navy is supporting us throughout our
hopeful surrogacy plans as surrogacy laws and rules for
gay parenting within the Navy are soon to change.
I hope my experience with the Royal Navy shows
that, in this day and age, it is changing and adapting to
today’s society.
See Craig and Joshua’s vintage-themed big day in the
spring 2015 issue of Pink Weddings Magazine!