British Army LGBT Forum - Army

The aim of the Army LGBT Forum

To promote a work environment in which Army LGBT personnel feel supported and valued.  In providing a suitable work environment the Army enables LGBT personnel to fulfill their career potentials, and to contribute fully to the benefit of the Service.

What we do? We:

• Provide a voice for LGBT soldiers to the Army and the outside world.
• Offer advice to potential recruits about life in the Army and how to join up.
• Provide a buddy scheme to potential and new recruits to smooth the adjustment to military life.
• Offer advice and assistance with issues experienced by LGBT soldiers.
• Assist officers and senior NCOs to provide an inclusive work environment.
• Link with the RN and RAF to provide a wider network of friends and advice.
• Arrange Pride March and social events for the Army.
• Meet every six months to tackle issues that people bump into.

The full Terms of Reference of the British Army LGBT Forum are available here.

Lt Col Jim Turner talks about life in the army, how things have changed for the better and why he has become a member of the Army LGBT Forum.

My name is Lt Col Jim Turner and my current appointment is Commander Regional Recruiting for the West Midlands. I am really pleased to have been invited to become a representative for our Forum. To be honest I didn’t know much about the Forum until last year when I was invited, on an off chance, to attend the conference in November 11. That opened my eyes to what the Forum was all about and made me realise that I wanted to get involved and contribute where I can. I’ve been an Infantry Officer for over twenty years and I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed every appointment and posting I’ve had. I strongly believe that anyone now serving or about to join should have the certainty that they can enjoy a full career with no danger of suffering any form of discrimination.

The Army has made massive progress in the last 10 years in its attitude to and treatment of members of minority groups! I believe that the policies in place now are sound and when correctly applied will ensure that everyone is treated fairly. Unfortunately, there are still a few instances of people being affected by discrimination. This is where the Forum has a significant role to play. We are ready to give the help and advice that anyone might need, often in very difficult circumstances, to a get full and satisfactory resolution. This isn’t simply a matter of the LGBT community looking after its own: this is about supporting the chain of command in the implementation of its policy of inclusion and diversity.

As a recruiter, I’ve been asked if it’s ok, or indeed required, to declare your orientation when you start the process of joining the Army. It certainly isn’t mandatory. It is very much a personal choice as to when and to whom you choose to come out. The important point is that people have the freedom to let their orientation be known as they please and that they won’t be discriminated against because of it. Anecdotally, that is exactly the experience of the vast majority of our people. Indeed, the most likely reaction in the Army, as in Civvy Street, is going to be along the lines of: “Fine. So what?”

Speaking personally, I spent a long time “in the closet” at work. Attitudes have changed and the advice I’d offer now is that people can confidently take an open and honest approach from the outset. This ties in closely with the Army’s Values and Standards, in particular “Integrity” and “Respect for others”. These are core values that we expect from our colleagues and of course must practice ourselves.