26 Mar 07
 |
Jan 07 Armed Forces Conference Proceedings
The proceedings from the Jan 07 Armed Forces Lesbian and
Gay Conference have been published. Rear Admiral Ibbotson
opened the conference by welcoming all attendees and spoke
of his pride in being invited as VIP to such an important
event. He also extended the very best wishes of 2SL to all
those in attendance. [more
...] |
19 Jan 07
|
RAF News - RAF joins Diversity Champions
THE RAF is joining forces with a leading gay campaign group to help
ensure that the Service's policies mark it out as an equal opportunity
employer. After lead-in disussions, the RAF formally applied to join the
Stonewall 'Diversity Champions' programme last month. We still know relatively
little about how our personnel policies, and underpinning culture, are
directly or indirectly affecting lesbian, gay and bisexual members.
[more
...] |
5 Jan 07
|
ARMED FORCES CONFERENCE FOR GAY AND LESBIAN PERSONNEL
- 26/27 Jan 07.
The purpose of the 2-day event is to update personnel on developments in
the RN diversity programme, to participate in presentations and workshops,
and to provide an enjoyable social networking opportunity for personnel
and their partners. The conference will convene during the afternoon of
Fri 26 Jan and disperse around midday on Sat 27 Jan. Attendance from Junior
members of each of the Services is particularly encouraged. [more ...] |
2 Jan 07
|
RAF sign up with Stonewall.
The Royal Air Force has become the second of the Armed Forces to join the
Stonewall Diversity Programme. The Royal Navy is already a member of the
scheme, which is designed to help organisations and businesses recruit and
retain
LGBT staff and promote
equality in the workplace. Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill described
the decision as "courageous." [more
...] |
2 Jan 07
|
RAF welcomes gay recruits.
The Royal Air Force is using the gay pressure group, Stonewall to solve its
recruitment crisis. The Service will seek advice on how to appear more appealing
to gays and lesbians. The collaboration with Stonewall will be complimented
by a campaign in the gay media. Stonewall will offer RAF personnel the chance
to attend its intensive two-day professional development training exercise
for "rising- lesbian and gay professionals in the workplace. Senior
RAF officers will also receive a training package "designed
to educate employers and their staff about the benefits of building an
inclusive workplace environment for lesbian and gay staff. [more
...] |
3 Jan 07
 |
Second Thoughts on Gays in the Military - Gen John
Shalikashvili, former Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen Shalikashvili says the military
has changed, and that homosexuals can now be accepted by their peers; says
1993 compromise known as 'don't ask, don't tell' was useful transitional
policy that allowed culture to evolve; says he now believes that gays in
military would not undermine efficacy of armed forces and that military must
welcome any American who is willing to serve; says timing of new nondiscrimination
policy should be carefully considered and not rushed; says by taking measured
approach, military and political leaders can address urgent problems while
remaining open to eventual and inevitable lifting of ban. [more
...] |
31 Dec 06
|
BOMBS AGAY - RAF Recruits homosexuals in pilot crisis.
RAF bosses are launching a drive to recruit gay pilots, engineers and air
crew to try to solve a staffing crisis.
Chiefs will pay pressure group Stonewall tens of thousands of pounds for
advice on how to make themselves more appealing to gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
To encourage gays to join, commanders have vowed to enforce a "zero
tolerance" policy towards homophobia in the service.
"The RAF is making it clear it won't tolerate such behaviour. Gay, bisexual
or lesbian people will be warmly welcomed into the fold." [more
...] |
6 Dec 06
|
Civil Partnerships exceed all expectations in the first
twelve months.
The government anticipated 4500 Civil Partnerships
in the first 12 months and between
11 000 and 22 000 by 2010. There had already been 15 672 partnerships
in the first 9 months from Dec 05 to Sep 06.
[more
...] |
Dec 06
|
diva magazine - at your service ma'am
"Life has vastly improved for lesbians serving in the British Military since
the ban on homosexuality was lifted in 2000, but there's still room for improvement." "The
policies are in place. It’s up to people like myself to educate others.
But that takes time. It’s going to take another generation for it to become
second nature." One area that many lesbians agree needs improving is communications.
Unless you work in an area responsible for the dissemination of information,
it seems difficult to find what your entitlements are, or what the new policies
regarding homosexuality entail. Equally, heterosexual members of the Armed Forces
seem less informed than their civilian counterparts about lesbian and gay issues.
[more ...] |
1 Jul 06
|
ROYAL NAVY marches in Uniform at EuroPride; other personnel
march in Proud2Serve polo shirts.
Read a summary of online press reports covering the Royal Navy presence at
EuroPride, with links to the complete original articles included throughout.
[more ...] |
31 Mar 06
|
ROYAL NAVY conference for lesbian and gay personnel,
27-28 Jan 06
The first Royal Navy Conference for Gay and Lesbian Personnel
was held at Amport House on 27th and 28th Jan 06. The event
was attended by 40 personnel and supported by key 2SL Staff
Officers, the Executive Director of Stonewall and the Stonewall
Diversity Champions Programme Manager. The Conference was Community
led event and the agreements reached over the course of the
Conference represent the aspirations
of those who attended. [more
...] |
17 Mar 06
|
New attitude to gay sailors has cut 'unhealthy secrecy'
The
chief of Royal Navy personnel said yesterday that it was "unhealthy" that
until recently gay sailors had been forced to keep their sexuality secret.
It was all in the name of operational effectiveness, and getting the best out
of the force.
"A substantial majority [of personnel] have simply taken this in their stride."
[more ...] |
16 Mar 06
|
Second Sea Lord delivers keynote address at Stonewall
conference
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Vice Admiral
Adrian Johns has today, Thursday 16 March 06, delivered a keynote address
to delegates at the Stonewall Conference in London setting out what he believes
is the progress that has been made in the Royal Navy across a wide range
of diversity issues. [more
...] |
30 Dec 05
|
Lt Cdr Craig Jones recognised for diversity work with
MBE
The Royal Navy’s most senior
openly gay officer has been honoured with an MBE in the New
Years
Honours List for the invaluable contribution he has made
to the promotion of diversity within the RN, and to the support
of gay and lesbian personnel.
Jones has been
the lead consultant for the gay community in the Armed Forces
since 2001 and has played a leading role in the development
of policy and initiatives aimed at improving conditions of
service for gay men and women in the Royal Navy and other
Services. [more
...] |
18 Dec 05
|
Gays who shape our new Britain - Guardian
Record numbers of gay men and lesbians, whose sexuality is neither a secret
nor a source of controversy, occupy key positions across British life. They
influence the entertainment we consume, how safe our streets are, the quality
of our hospitals, how well solicitors perform, the country's political direction
and much else besides.
There are three people we wanted to list: the chief executive of a major
FTSE 100 company, one of Britain's leading sportspeople and a senior government
adviser, but they have not 'come out'.
The climate may indeed be more tolerant, but clearly not tolerant enough. [more
...] |
12 Dec 05
|
Gay soldier leaving Army after assault at Fort Huachuca
Lawson now feels he has no choice but to leave the military and has requested
a discharge. He was training to be an Army interrogator, a high-demand job
in the age of terrorism. Lawson said the soldiers who accosted him received
little punishment from the Army. Fort Huachuca officials say neither case
was mishandled.
Despite a Pentagon push in 2000 to prevent gay-bashing more than 900
gay troops were verbally or physically harassed last year. However, 67 percent
of polled potential recruits said openly gay troops
would
have "no effect" on their
decisions to enlist. Other recent polls have found public support as high
as 79 percent for allowing gays to serve openly. [more
...] |
13 Sep 05
|
Commanders Ordered Not To Fire Gays Until War's End - 365Gay.com
(Santa Barbara, California) Scholars studying military personnel policy
have discovered a document halting the discharge of gay soldiers in units
that are about to be mobilized. Gay soldiers and legal groups have reported
for years that known gays are sent into combat, and then discharged when
the conflicts end. Discharge statistics corroborate a pattern of rising expulsions
during peacetime and plummeting rates during military conflicts. [more
...] |
29 Aug 05
|
An account of the RAF involvement
in Manchester Pride 2005
An annual event in Manchester
to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life, it is hailed
as the biggest event of its type in
Europe. This was the second year that the RAF had participated in
both the Lifestyle Expo and Parade events: [more
...] |
28 Aug 05
|
Army on parade for gay recruits - Sunday Times
The army came out in style this weekend when it launched a recruitment
drive ... sending 10 gay and lesbian soldiers in combat trousers
and tight T-shirts to join thousands of marchers on a five-mile
parade through Manchester. For campaigners, however, the sight
of gay soldiers on parade was more reminiscent of a victory
march.
The army’s recruiting stand
did brisk business. The officers manning it were dressed
in full military regalia, but were easily outdone by their
would-be
recruits: one sported a pair of red devil horns and a cape.
Warrant
Officer Lutha Magloire, 39, of the Logistic Corps, who organised
the soldiers’ contingent, said he had
asked for 10 recruits — and got 30 volunteers. “We
don’t really care what sexual orientation you are if
you want to come and join us in the army.” [more
...] |
27 Aug 05
|
British Army participates in first Gay Pride parade
The Army
have joined a gay pride parade for the first time, as soldiers
marched with lesbians and gay men at Manchester's Pride Festival.
About 10 uniformed soldiers paraded and manned a recruitment
stall. Some 20 RAF colleagues manned a float featuring a plane
cockpit - the RAF was the first armed service to join a gay
pride festival
at last year's event. [more
...]
|
24 Aug 05
|
proud2serve Press Release
proud2serve.net, launched earlier this year, is a new website
for lesbian and gay service personnel in the British Military.
Aimed primarily at Royal Navy/Royal Marines, British Army and
Royal Air Force personnel its audience also extends to the Reserve
Forces and partners of the serving. [more...] |
11 Jul 05
|
Police sexual orientation questionaire to go nationwide
A scheme aimed at asking policemen and women to reveal their sexual orientation
may be rolled out across the UK after a successful trial period in test constabularies
including Lancashire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire. Officers were asked
if they were gay, bisexual or straight, as part of an anonymous equal opportunities
form. It said the results of the trials were promising because some staff
felt able to say they were not heterosexual and only a small number of
people declined to answer the question. Head of HR at Lancashire Constabulary,
said it was not about "targets and quotas", but "to try
to understand and get a better appreciation of the needs of our staff". [more...] |
Jun 05
|
Lt Cdr Craig Jones interviewed by
Focus Magazine
The sound
of feet being dragged was loud when the Forces’ ban on homosexuals
was lifted. But five years on, the Senior Service is actively engaging
the gay community. Campaigning gay naval officer Lieutenant Commander
Craig Jones told Lorraine McBride that this is more than welcome.[more...] |
May 05
|
Canadian Air Force Hosts First Gay
Wedding
Two RCAF SNCOs were married at an airbase in Nova Scotia in May. Canadian Ministry
of Defence introduced regulations in 2003 permitting lesbian and gay service
personnel to marry. The happy couple are a sergeant and a warrant officer
and the marriage was presided over by a United Church minister. [more...] |
Apr 05
|
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP interviewed by attitude
"The treatment of gay men in the armed services was
one of the most important changes because it sent a strong signal
about the stereotypes about gay men, and it showed
that they aren't true. I think it's important in relationship to things
like sport as well, so that people really do not think it either strange
of difficult that people of a different sexuality are moving into those
areas, or being open about it." [more...] |
24 Mar 05
|
Army Recruitment Bottoms Out But No
Plans To End Military's Gay Ban
A study done by the Government Accountability Office shows
that more than 10,000 service members have been discharged
over the last 10 years
under the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and that it has cost taxpayers
more than $200 million to recruit replacements for LGBT enlisted service
members who were discharged. But, despite the drain on troops and failure
of the Pentagon to attract enlistees, Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey
says there are no plans to end "don't ask, don't tell". [more...] |
22 Mar 05
|
What do top executives think about
diversity?
" Diversity is not about box-ticking, it has to evolve naturally. The key
word is mainstreaming. We started with a diversity strategy with a small number
of people, but success would be not to have a separate plan, but for it to be
part of everyday thinking." - head of diversity, Royal Bank of Scotland
Group
"A company's performance is always linked to
its ability to recruit the right people. People want to
work for companies that demonstrate that diversity matters.
There needs to be a sustained culture assault down the
supply chain that business must encourage." -
Sir Digby Jones, director general, CBI [more...] |
2 Mar 05
|
US Move To Repeal Gay Military Ban
Gains Support From Retired Brass
Legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the
military’s ban on gays in the military was introduced in Congress
late in Feb 05. Rep. Meehan is also a member of the House Armed Services
Committee, as are 7 co-sponsors of today’s legislation. "I
think the real issue is how soldiers do their jobs, not their sexuality,” BG
Richard later told CNN American Morning. “The policy is not working
and it's not working because, as an example . . . the Army and the
services are short many linguists and we kicked out [many] over the
last couple of years that could have helped our Army.” [more...] |
1 Mar 05
|
Training Magazine - Diversity Policy
and Training
Most employers are only doing the minimum necessary to meet
the legal requirements on diversity. "My over-arching observation is there
is not enough training except for on a compliance level," says
the diversity adviser for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development. "You could make people fearful of what they can and
can't do and become preoccupied with political correctness. What organisations
need to do now is get their heads around what diversity means in the
broader sense. [more...] |
24 Feb 05 |
US report shows high cost of military
ban
A US government report shows "don't ask, don't tell," has
cost the Pentagon hundreds of millions of dollars to implement, prompting
members of Congress to announce new plans to repeal the measure. 10,000
servicemen have been discharged under the policy and the Pentagon has
spent nearly $200 million to recruit and train replacements of enlisted
personnel discharged under the policy. [more...] |
23 Feb 05
|
Royal Navy right to promote gay rights?
A spokesman said the Royal Navy's existing no-sex policy will remain
in place on ships and at naval bases. Stonewall's chief exec said he
was optimistic that the Army and the RAF would follow suit; forces
staff had become so sophisticated and highly-trained that they could
no longer afford to lose them due to prejudice. Read comments left
on this artilce[more
...] |
22 Feb 05
|
Gay Personnel Can Live Together
Gay servicemen and women in the Armed Forces are to be allowed to live
in family quarters as long as their relationships is registered under
the new Civil Partnership Act, which comes into force later this year.
An MoD spokesman said that the new policy would come into effect for
all Army, Royal Navy and RAF staff from the autumn. [more...] |
21 Feb 05
|
Royal Navy Goes After Gay Market
The Royal Navy has decided to actively target the gay market
by placing recruitment adverts in gay magazines and by joining
Stonewall’s
Diversity Champions Programme, which promotes good working conditions
for all existing and potential employees and ensures equal treatment
for those who are lesbian, gay and bisexual.
The Navy’s most senior openly gay officer Lieutenant Commander
Craig Jones said: "I'm delighted by this move. It will be particularly
welcomed by serving gay men and women and their partners, providing
reassurance that their contribution will be valued and their sexual
orientation respected in a positive working environment. [more..] |
21 Feb 05
|
Royal Navy to champion gay rights
The Royal Navy has become the first of Britain's armed
forces to specifically target gay recruits.
This morning, it announced that it was signing up to gay-rights charity
Stonewall's diversity programme [click
here] to promote good working conditions and ensure equal treatment
for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. [more...] |
25 Jan 05
|
Discrimination law changes make little impact
Just 50 per cent of employers have trained their staff on new
discrimination legislation with 8 in 10 had modifying policies
over the past year to comply with laws banning discrimination
on the
grounds of sexual orientation or religion,
which came into effect in 2003.
The extent of training made available to staff is likely to
be an important consideration when determining whether 'reasonable
steps' have been taken to avoid discrimination. [more..] |
17 Jan 05 |
US Air Force proposal sought gay sex
weapon
The Pentagon briefly looked into making a weapon that would
render enemy troops sexually attracted to one another. The
proposed aphrodisiac
was part of a weapons development plan circulated in 1994 at the US
Air Force Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio. The aphrodisiac chemical
would be designed to make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to each
other. The resulting widespread homosexual behaviour, the proposal
suggests, would cause a "distasteful but completely non-lethal
blow" to morale. [more...] |
16 Oct 04 |
National
Annaberg Election Survey 2004 - US Military Attitudes to Gays
in the
Military
This abstract is from the National Annaberg Election Survey dated 16 Oct
04 in which US service personnel where questioned on a range of topics including
their attitude towards gays in the military. An interesting comparison can
be drawn with the acceptance of female service personnel, for many years
resisted as fiercely as the current debate about gays and "don't ask
don't tell". [more...] |
19 Oct 04 |
Report Says 65,000 Gays Serve In Military
(US)
A new report from the Urban Institute estimates that, by even conservative
counts, 65,000 lesbian and gay Americans are serving in the United
States Armed Forces, on active duty, in the reserves and the National
Guard.
The report, Gay Men and Lesbians in the U.S. Military, using estimates
from the 2000 Census 2000 found that the length of service for gay
men is equal to their heterosexual colleagues, while lesbians typically
serve longer than their straight counterparts. [more...] |
7 Sep 04
|
RAF broadens
appeal with diversity drive
The Gay Pride festival over the August Bank Holiday heralded a new era for
the RAF, as it specifically targeted homosexual recruits for the first time
in its history. Eight officers staffed a float at the event in Manchester
as part of a recruitment drive to show that the Armed Forces welcome people
from different backgrounds.
A spokeswoman for the RAF said: "We have recruitment policies that recognise
that people from different backgrounds can make positive contributions. An
individual's sexual orientation is none of the RAF's business." [more...] |
26 Aug 04
|
RAF recruiting
drive at Manchester Pride
Eight RAF officers are to become the first members of
the armed forces to take part in a gay pride rally with official permission.
The officers will staff a special float at Manchester Pride this weekend,
as
part of an RAF recruitment drive. [more...]
[photos] |
24 May 04 |
US military fires gays for online profiles
At least six gay, lesbian and bisexual U.S. military members
are facing discharges this year because of their online profiles,
or personal
ads, in what appears to be an emerging trend for enforcing the military's
policy against gay soldiers. The known cases make up 21 percent (six
out of 29) of the "outing" incidents monitored by SLDN this
year . [more...] |
13 Feb 04
|
Out
Sailors Recount Iraq War Experiences Alongside US Troops
Two gay British sailors spoke in Washington this week
to buttress claims made in a new study that openly gay soldiers who served
in multinational units with American forces in Iraq did not harm unit
cohesion. Lt. Rolf Kurth and Lt. Cmdr. Craig A. Jones, both of the British
Royal Navy, served alongside American troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom,
and
shared their experiences in the British armed services and what military
life is like where they were allowed to be open about their sexual orientation.
[more...] |
24 Dec 03 |
Massive Support For Gays In Military
Poll Shows
A new poll has found that 79% of all Americans believe that
gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the
military. Survey
participants were asked, "Do you think people who are openly gay
or homosexual should - or should not - be allowed to serve in the U.S.
military?"
In the 18-29 year age range, 91% said that gays should be allowed to
serve openly. Those aged 30-49, 50-64, and 65 and over were 81, 74,
and 68% respectively. [more...] |
20 Mar 03
|
Bereaved to get MoD pension
Unmarried partners of any British service personnel killed
in the war against Iraq will get pensions, the Ministry of
Defence has said. The
decision will apply to both heterosexual couples and same sex partners
and will be offered when a loved one is killed in "conflict".
[more...] |
10 Feb 01
|
Gays in the British Military: Ask,
Tell and Then Move On
Even in the newly relaxed climate, it seems that relatively
few gays have publicly come out so far. Others have come out
only to select
groups of friends. " My private life has never been embroiled
in my working life," said an openly gay seaman. "If I'm asked,
I'll answer, but I don't walk around with a big flag saying, 'I'm gay.' " Since
Britain lifted the ban, its military says, there have been no reported
incidents of harassment. [more...] |
22 Nov 00
 |
"UK Military: Gays don't harm
morale"
Ten months after the ban on gays in the British military was
lifted, the first assessment of the consequences has found
no effect on morale.
A confidential MOD review says the introduction of gays has had no
adverse effects on the operational forces. The conclusion will embarrass
service chiefs, who fought to retain the ban, and the Conservative
Pary, which has pledged to consider its reintroduction. "There
is widespread acceptance of the new policy. It has not been an issue
of great debate. In fact, there has been a marked lack of reaction.
Generally there has been a mature, pragmatic approach, which allowed
the policy to succeed. The change in policy has been hailed as a solid
achievement."
An officer in the Parachute Regiment said: "I've known of
one case since the lifting of the ban where the lads have assumed
someone to be gay. He has been left alone and is doing well. Our
key priority is recruiting tough, fit, team players. We need as
many as possible. This sex thing has nothing whatsoever to do with
their ability as soldiers. It appears to be an obsession of armchair
warriors."
[more
..] |
21 Sep 00
 |
Australia says end to ban has improved the working environment
A new study of gays and lesbians serving in the Australian
military has found no discernible effects of allowing homosexuals
to serve and evidence suggests that lifting the ban in Australia
has contributed to improvements in the working environment. [more
..] |
