By Press Association 2021
Handout photo issued by Liberty of Falklands veteran Joe Ousalice (right) being given his medal for long service and good conduct by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace
Former military members who were dismissed from service because of their sexuality are now able to reclaim lost medals.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it wanted to address a “historical wrong” with the launch of the scheme.
Gay people were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000.
A statement on the GOV.UK website says: “Prior to 2000, a number of armed forces personnel were discharged from service on the basis of their sexuality.
Troops who were stripped of their medals for being gay are to get them back after a lengthy legal battle - but promised compensation has still not been paid.
The Ministry of Defence is to restore the medals of all personnel discharged because of their sexuality before a ban on gay people serving in the military was lifted in 2000. Until then anyone found to be gay or bisexual faced being booted out of the forces.
Defence chiefs made the decision after being taken to the High Court by former sailor Joe Ousalice, 70, from Southampton.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson today saluted the ruling, declaring: Those who serve in our Armed Forces deserve every recognition for their service. It was a very great injustice that this was denied to some members simply because of their sexuality. I hugely welcome the fact we can now address this historic wrong.
A naval veteran who was kicked out of the armed forces for being bisexual in the 1990s has said he was left stealing from farmers’ fields to survive.
Joe Ousalice, 70, lost his family, home and livelihood almost overnight after being court-martialled in November 1993, as well as having his pension cut.
He made the comments following the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) announcement that veterans who were dismissed from service because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals stripped from them.
Mr Ousalice, from Southampton, Hampshire, had his medal for long service and good conduct confiscated when he was discharged.