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Help & Advice

In this section you will find resources to help answer questions you have relating to for getting help and advice and details of where to get help when you need it most.

In Concepts of Sexuality we explore the differences between sexual orientation, identity and behaviour, highlight why it matters that gay/lesbian and bisexual colleagues should not have to be invisible in the workplace, and demolish some stereotypes about working with gays (we all already do!).

The coming out pages include some suggestions on how to deal with this sometimes traumatic process, providing hints and tips as well as a selection of personal accounts from serving military personnel about how their own coming out went.

The guides for commanders, colleagues and families provide advice in a series of frequently asked questions articles on aspects of working alongside LGBT colleagues.

Finally the transgender and transsexual pages include detailed information about the hows and wheres of all aspects of transgender and transsexuality, including an Armed Forces view from Proud2Serve members.

Need more help? If you haven't visited the P2SForum yet, it has over 2,000 topics and 13,000 posts by users and provides a wealth of personal accounts, discussion and information. It's a great place to post a specific question if you are serving, ex-serving, or a family member. Even if none of the above apply you can still post a question on one of the Free to Post Topics.

The chances are that someone has been through, or is going through, the problems or situation you are experiencing and help is just a few clicks away.

Civil Partnership Guide by Stonewall

Guides for Commanders, Colleagues and Families

The attached guide to Civil Partnerships has been produced by Stonewall and is designed to provide an overview of civil partnership law for gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

Read more: Civil Partnership Guide by Stonewall

 

Coming Out Stories from the Military

Coming out

The exerpts below are all real-world coming out stories by gay and lesbian service personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, Royal Air Force and their reserves.

"I've come out twice now since I've been in (only a year). Once on Basic Training and once when i got here to my first proper post. Both times i told one person and it slowly filtered round. I think this is probably the easiest and best way of doing it. I really didnt feel i should have to stand up and tell some people, like it was an issue. I just slipped it into conversation and let them pick up on it."

Read more: Coming Out Stories from the Military

 

Introduction to Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation

Being gay or bisexual means, in simple terms, that you are physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same sex as you. Nobody chooses their sexuality and despite sexuality being only one aspect of an individual's being, to be gay or even bisexual is certainly not always without its problems.

Read more: Introduction to Sexual Orientation

   

Working with gays - demolishing stereotypes and myths

Concepts of Sexuality

"What's Going To Happen When I Have To Work And Live Next to Gay and Bisexual People?"

You already do! The simple answer is that the odds are you already have been working and living next to gay and bisexual people. You just haven't known who they are!

Can you spot the gay soldier?

Can you tell which is the gay soldier? Does it effect their ability to fulfil their role as a serviceman/woman?

Read more: Working with gays - demolishing stereotypes and myths

 

Glossary of Terms Relating to Transsexuality

Transgender and transsexual

Language can be an emotive issue in the trans community, with different people feeling comfortable with different descriptions and nouns. This glossary captures some of the more commonly used words and provides a guide to acceptable language. The best way that a unit can ensure it is using respectful language is to ask any trans staff what they consider appropriate.

Read more: Glossary of Terms Relating to Transsexuality

   

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