It wasn’t that long ago when serving members of the LGBT+ community could be dismissed from all branches of the UK Armed Forces on the basis of their sexuality.

Approximately 250 members of Her Majesties Armed forces were thrown out each year because of their sexuality, and frequently had their service medals withdrawn and pension rights rescinded. In some cases, medals were physically ripped from a service person’s uniform after a conviction at Court-Martial. Those found guilty of identifying as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender sometimes went on to a serve a prison term, typically several months long. Soldiers often faced prolonged exposure to prejudice, discrimination, homophobic abuse, humiliation and for some, physical violence and sexual assault. To combat retaliation, soldiers often lived a double life hiding their sexuality out of fear. There are no accurate statistics to indicate how many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans there are in the UK. However, what we do know from countries like the United States and Canada is that LGBT Veterans are at a disproportionate risk for suicide and other poor health outcomes (Mereish, et al., 2012), due in part, to barriers in accessing services and lack of social support. Sexual and gender minority veterans continue to face stigma and discrimination, which can negatively affect their confidence and self-esteem for the rest of their natural life. Similarly, research in the USA and Canada indicates that LGBTQ+ Veterans are more likely to report poor physical and mental health. Recent data shows minority women veterans have more chronic health conditions and report worse health compared to heterosexual women veterans and non-veterans. They are also more likely to be smokers, engage in excessive drinking, feel sad, isolated and lonely. Additional research in the USA found that LGB women Veterans were at higher risk of military sexual assault and intimate partner violence after service.