LGBT veterans dismissed from the British Armed Forces due to their sexuality have expressed deep anger and disappointment at the painfully slow progress of the Government’s compensation scheme, five months after its launch.
Campaigners have criticised ministers for failing to act swiftly, despite promising up to £75 million in redress through the LGBT Veterans’ Independent Review, with individual payments of up to £70,000. The scheme was introduced to formally acknowledge the harm caused to thousands of veterans who were dismissed, discharged, or otherwise mistreated simply for being gay, lesbian or bisexual while in service.
Yet as of this month, only 24 payments have been made from more than 1,000 submitted applications, according to the military charity Fighting With Pride.
Eight of those awarded compensation are reported to have life-limiting health conditions, prompting serious concern that many eligible veterans – now in their 60s, 70s and 80s – may not live long enough to see justice delivered.
Peter Gibson, the charity’s chief executive, has written to Defence Secretary John Healey to warn of a growing tide of “anger, frustration and impatience” among veterans. “The scheme is sadly not delivering at a pace which meets the expectations of the ageing veterans we are working with,” he wrote.
He also criticised the inadequate infrastructure behind the scheme, noting that a team of just 15 staff, supported by underperforming digital systems, was wholly insufficient. “Together with underperforming technology, it is clearly and simply not enough to meet the demand,” he said.
Mr Gibson argued that what should have been a moment of recognition and healing has instead become a source of renewed pain. “Veterans are having to relive the trauma of their dismissal, only to find themselves waiting months with little communication or progress. It’s reopening old wounds.”
Among those affected is Emma Storey, who was investigated by military police and left the Women’s Royal Army Corps in 1987. She described her disillusionment with the delays: “We feel angry and disappointed. We were treated abysmally during our service. Forced out for our sexuality and loving the people we love, only to be let down by a casual approach to the payments we’re owed.”
Now aged 64, Ms Storey added: “I deserve to enjoy some dignity in the later years of my life. After reopening the wounds by applying for the financial recognition scheme, the least I’d expect is to be shown the decency and respect of a prompt resolution.”
Campaigners fear the delays may deprive many of closure entirely. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” Mr Gibson said. “It’s high time the Government pulled out all the stops for these veterans who bravely served their country, yet were appallingly treated simply for being gay.”
In response, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to work quickly through the over 1,000 applications for financial recognition we’ve received. The process of working through applications requires checking a number of information sources and historical records, however we understand the need for timeliness in delivering this important scheme.”
They added that applicants can receive progress updates via the official GOV.UK website.
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Meanwhile, some progress has been noted on separate but related initiatives. Data published earlier this month revealed that 40 individuals had successfully had historic convictions for same-sex activity wiped from official records under the Government’s disregards and pardons scheme.
Originally introduced in 2012, the scheme was long criticised for only covering men and only applying to certain convictions. In 2023, it was finally extended to include women and to cover all repealed or abolished offences that once criminalised consensual same-sex activity.
Of the 40 successful applications for disregards between June 2023 and March 2025, 35 were for military offences, while three fell under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
But for many LGBT veterans, the pace of compensation remains the most pressing issue. Campaigners say time is running out for a generation that has waited decades for recognition – and fear that for too many, it may come too late.
