A lecture by Lord Etherton, a prominent judge who investigated the ban on LGBT individuals serving in the British armed forces, was revealed posthumously last night by actor and peer Michael Cashman at the Imperial War Museum. Lord Etherton, who passed away in May last year, highlighted the pervasive “institutional homophobia” he encountered during his inquiry into the ban that persisted until 2000.
He exposed a culture of discrimination, harassment, blackmail, and abusive practices, including conversion therapy, within the Ministry of Defence and senior ranks of the Armed Forces. The slow progress in compensating those affected by the ban, with 1,312 individuals applying for financial reparations, has raised concerns.
Lord Cashman, known for his groundbreaking same-sex kiss portrayal on Eastenders in 1989, read Lord Etherton’s lecture at an event hosted by Russell Tovey, with Lord Etherton’s husband in attendance. The CEO of Fighting With Pride, Peter Gibson, emphasized the urgency for the Ministry of Defence to expedite reparations to the victims who have endured significant trauma and delays in compensation.
Fighting With Pride offers support to LGBTQ+ veterans and urges individuals whose claims have been rejected to seek legal assistance for potential appeals. The charity stresses the importance of honoring Lord Etherton’s legacy by swiftly addressing the outstanding compensation claims, emphasizing the Ministry of Defence’s responsibility to act promptly and justly.