Able Seaman Triss Smythe (pictured) has denied sexual assault by non-consensual touching at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire. He claimed his demisexuality means he could not have done it.
Royal Navy engineer Triss Smythe, 23, horrified a fellow sailor by hugging him from behind and kissing his neck passionately before pressing against him, a court martial heard.
BBC News
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In 2000, the law changed to allow members of the LGBT community to serve in the UK armed forces.
As part of LGBT history month, the BBC spoke to some of those affected by the change to find out how military culture has evolved. I was trying to understand who I was
image copyrightDeborah Penny
Warrant Officer Class 2 Deborah Penny was the first transgender soldier to serve in an operational theatre in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
Growing up she knew there was something different about her. We didn t have computers back in the 70s and 80s - we didn t have mobile phones, she said.