Gay groups to fight forces ban
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.COLIN BROWN
Chief Political Correspondent
Gay rights activists last night warned the Ministry of Defence they would be going ahead with a legal challenge after the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Portillo, announced the ban on homosexuals in the armed services will stay.
Mr Portillo said the results of a survey of the armed forces to be released today by the MoD showed overwhelming support for the ban on gays to be kept. There will be no compromise between front line troops and support services.
Stonewall, the gay rights campaign group, said it would be challenging the legal basis of the ban within six weeks with an appeal to the House of Lords.
Four gay ex-service people - former Lieutenant Commander Duncan Lustig- Prean, 36, ex-RAF Sergeant Graeme Grady, 32, ex-RAF nurse Jeanette Smith, 28, and former navy weapons engineer John Beckett, 25, are to apply for leave to go to the House of Lords. If they fail in their bid, they will go immediately to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Three Court of Appeal judges ruled last November that the automatic bar on homosexuals in the forces was neither irrational nor unlawful.
The gay rights activists dismissed the MoD survey as biased and unfair. "If you ask them whether male and female homosexuality are equally abhorrent, you are bound to get a skewed result," said a spokeswoman for Stonewall.
Mr Portillo said lifting the ban on gays in the armed forces would be bad for discipline and morale, according to the vast majority of servicemen.
The results of the MoD's long-awaited review of homosexuals in the military will come as a relief to service chiefs who have been fighting to prevent any relaxation of the ban.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments