A heterosexual man from Burley has spoken out about being forced out of the British Army at just 16 years old after being wrongly accused of being gay.
Steven Waring, now 60, told the Lancashire Telegraph that he was called into his Commanding Officer’s office, where he was confronted with the question: “Why are you a poof?” At the time, Waring says he did not even understand what the term meant.
He later discovered that allegations had been made accusing him of engaging in homosexual acts with a non-commissioned officer — claims he denies, noting that he had a girlfriend at the time.
According to Waring, he was soon presented with an ultimatum and asked whether he wanted to handle the situation “the easy way or the hard way”. He alleges he was then “coaxed” into signing discharge papers, meaning his exit from the Army was officially recorded as voluntary.
Before he had the chance to explain the situation himself, his parents were informed that he had been discharged because he was a “homosexual”. The fallout had a lasting impact on his family, with Waring saying his father — a former serviceman — did not speak to him again until shortly before his death.
Although Waring later received a one-off compensation payment, his application for £50,000 in reparations under schemes designed for those affected by the military’s historic ban on homosexuality was rejected. The Ministry of Defence maintains that he left the Army of his own accord.
Reflecting on the experience, Waring said he has been told his case represents a miscarriage of justice but feels he has not received adequate redress.
“I could be retired now, with a big military pension, which is sad,” he said.
“All I ever wanted was to serve this country and be a soldier, and that was taken away from me. It was really harrowing.
“I was coaxed into signing these papers at 16 with no parent present. It has ruined my life.”
