Two former members of the armed forces are taking legal action against the Ministry of Defence, arguing that they were unfairly denied proper compensation under the UK’s scheme for LGBTQ+ veterans affected by the military ban.
Mark Shephard and Steven Stewart say they suffered lasting harm after being forced to leave military service because they were queer. Both men claim they were effectively pushed out “by way of ultimatum”, despite not being formally discharged.
The UK government launched its LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme in 2024 to compensate LGBTQ+ veterans who were dismissed or otherwise harmed under the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
Under the scheme, eligible applicants can receive up to £70,000. That includes £50,000 for those who were removed from service because of the ban, with a further £20,000 available for people who experienced additional harms such as a criminal record, abusive questioning or invasive interrogation.
However, because Shephard and Stewart were not officially discharged, they were not awarded the higher level of compensation.
Instead, Shephard received £5,000 and Stewart was awarded £7,000. Those amounts were decided by an independent panel, and both men were unsuccessful in their attempts to secure larger payments through the appeals process.
Speaking to the BBC on 19 February, Shephard said he served in the Royal Air Force from 1995 to 2001. He said that in 1999 he was questioned about his sexuality and told he could either face dismissal or resign voluntarily while working out his notice.
“I felt like I was driven out of the career I trained hard to achieve and excelled at,” he said. “Nothing will ever make up for what many people had to go through. This action isn’t about the money but ensuring those who had to give up their military lives and careers get the justice they’re entitled to.”
Stewart, who served in the Royal Military Police from 1988 to 1995, said he was arrested, interviewed under caution and removed from his unit because of his sexuality. He told the BBC he was “confused” about his sexuality at the time.
He later resigned after being told he could face a court-martial and a possible prison sentence.
Speaking on 7 April, Stewart said the experience had a profound and lasting impact on his life.
“I had done nothing wrong, but I was left with no real choice,” he said.
“Leaving under those circumstances was devastating. My military career ended overnight. The impact of that decision has stayed with me ever since. I rebuilt my life, but what happened has stayed with me for nearly three decades. It affected my confidence, my relationships and how I saw myself.”
The case raises further questions about how the compensation scheme is being applied, particularly for veterans who say they were effectively forced to resign rather than being formally dismissed. For Shephard and Stewart, the issue is not only financial recognition, but whether the system fully acknowledges the damage done to those whose careers were cut short under discriminatory policies.
