aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Gay pride in the British military

Gays have been welcomed in the British military since 2000:

The government removed the ban after it was ruled illegal in a case brought by the gay rights pressure group Stonewall.

Attitudes in the armed forces have changed so much since then that Stonewall now rates the Royal Navy 75th in its list of gay-friendly employers.

And gay service personnel in a civil partnership enjoy the same benefits as married staff.

Vice Admiral Adrian Johns is the services head of personnel. He was speaking at a gay workplace conference:

“My policy team is currently investigating the feasibility of utilising drama-based training resources, to reach some of those whose culture and behaviour need to be brought into line with 21st Century thinking.”

Vice Admiral Johns joked that Lord Nelson may have been “ahead of his time” when he famously asked Captain Hardy to kiss him on his deathbed at the Battle of Trafalgar.

He said final approval had yet to be given for Royal Navy personnel to take part in the EuroPride festival on July 1.

But he added: “I am heartened by the fact that a significant number of Royal Navy lesbian and gay personnel are very keen to march in uniform in the main parade and share in the celebration.”

Via PageOneQ.