MOD pays out £4 million for homophobia
MOD pays out £4 million for homophobia
Friday, 07, Nov 2008 12:00
Sixty-five former service personnel dismissed for being gay were paid four million pounds in compensation, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed today.
On average, each person received £61,500.
"These payouts are small compensation to people who were often subjected to degrading interrogation and detention, and who lost their job and service accommodation. They ended up unemployed and homeless," said Peter Tatchell of gay rights group, OutRage!.
The British military ban on gays was overturned in 1999 following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which stated the ban violated a person's right to a private life.
"For many gay and lesbian service personnel, dismissal from the military destroyed their distinguished careers and caused them immense financial and emotional suffering," Mr Tatchell said.
"Although this monetary compensation package is welcome and long overdue, what's really important is the official recognition that a grave injustice was done to these people and to hundreds of other dismissed lesbian and gay soldiers, sailors and air crews."