Currently LGBT-plus veterans who were constructively dismissed are only eligible for a partial payment.
Published 23rd Oct 2026, 06:00 BST
A Yorkshire woman, who says she was bullied out of the Army over her sexuality, is calling on the Government to amend its “gay ban” financial redress scheme to include full compensation those who were constructively dismissed.
Louise Lingard-Snape, from Barnsley, met with Veterans Minister Calvin Bailey to warn that she and others are unfairly excluded from getting full redress in the Ministry of Defence’s reparations scheme.
LGBT-plus ex-servicemen and women have until December 12 to apply for a financial redress scheme for those impacted by the pre-2000 “gay ban” in the military.
Under the ban, which was in place between 1967 and 2000, men and women in the army, navy, and air force were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.
Fighting With Pride, a charity which has campaigned on behalf of LGBT veterans, has said that people like Louise, 58, who was forced out over her sexuality, are currently excluded from the main payment.
Louise joined the Army aged 18, joining its elite military band.
“I served for 15 years, cherishing the prestige and honour that came with being a musician in The British Army,” she said.
“I was devastated to have my career ended when I was in line for a promising career in the higher echelons of military music.
“The bullying and discrimination because of my sexuality left me no choice but to leave.
“I regret every single day the fact I was forced to leave. I look back with anger that I was bullied into submission.
“What happened to me in front of the SIB [military police] has shaped my mental health since, the loss of my career and abuse will never leave me.”
Louise said the meeting with Mr Bailey, himself an RAF war hero in Afghanistan who was awarded the Air Medal by US President Barack Obama in 2013, was “emotionally charged”.
“We explained how unfair it is that myself and others are currently denied the most significant payment after suffering horrifically,” she said.
“I want to believe that finally we will get the justice we deserve.”
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, himself openly gay, told the LGBTQ+ Defence Awards: “To this day, some people who were prepared to fight for their country are still having to fight for the justice they are owed. And so, I know there’s lots that we, that I, need to do.”
An MoD Spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000 which was wholly unacceptable and is not representative of Defence today and remain committed to ensuring their voices are heard and, where appropriate, addressed.
“The Minister for Veterans and People recently met with Fighting with Pride and LGBT veterans to understand their experiences of Financial Recognition Scheme.
“Veterans who felt compelled or pressured to resign due to the ban are eligible for the Impact Payment, and we encourage them to apply before the scheme closes on 12 December.”