Guidance

Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures

Updated 12 December 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lgbt-veterans-apply-for-restorative-measures/lgbt-veterans-apply-for-restorative-measures

What is this guide for?

If you, or someone you know, served under and was impacted by the Ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000, you/they may be eligible for restorative measures.

This guide provides information on all of the non-financial restorative measures provided by the Ministry of Defence and covers:

  • restorative measures
  • eligibility criteria
  • application processes
  • other relevant information for applicants, including expected timelines

For information on the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, visit LGBT Veterans: support and next steps.

To read the Government’s response to the LGBT Veterans Independent Review visit LGBT Veterans Independent Review: Government response

Who can apply for the restorative measures?

  • Anyone, regardless of sexuality, gender identity or serving status, who was affected by the ban while serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest, including next of kin, to a deceased veteran who was affected by the ban while serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000 (see the full definition below under ‘A Person of Sufficient Interest criteria and definition’).

The restorative measures cover a variety of different circumstances. Check your eligibility for each measure, as not all restorative measures will apply to everyone.

How do I claim non-financial restorative measures?

We have separated the restorative measures into two sections. This is to help you understand which measures you may be eligible for and how to apply. 

  • Section one - new restorative measures. These measures are a result of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

  • Section two - pre-existing restorative measures. These measures were already in progress, or available, before the review was published.

The new restorative measures and pre-existing restorative measures have different application processes. To find information and application forms for all non-financial restorative measures, visit Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

Please only apply for the restorative measures that you believe you or the applicant are eligible for.

How can I apply?

You can apply for the new restorative measures listed in section one by completing the relevant application form below. If you would like to apply for all of the new restorative measures at once, you can do so by submitting one of the forms below – you do not need to apply more than once.

  • Application form for anyone directly impacted. This is for veterans and serving personnel who were affected by the historic policy between 1967 and 2000.
  • Form for a Person of Sufficient Interest. This is for a ‘Person of Sufficient Interest’ to a deceased, affected veteran. This includes Next of Kin and a broader range of close personal relationships. Supporting evidence must be submitted to prove your relationship to the veteran.

Find out more about Persons of Sufficient Interest, including who they are, criteria and required evidence, under ‘A Person of Sufficient Interest criteria and definition’.

All application forms can be found at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

How long will it take?

You will receive confirmation of your application by email or post. The time it will take to process your application depends on the measures you’re applying for, but you should be contacted by Defence within six months of applying. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to provide updates on applications before this point.

Who is A Person of Sufficient Interest?

A Person of Sufficient Interest, including next of kin, is someone who had a long-standing, close personal relationship to the deceased person. This may be a relative, spouse, civil partner, long-term partner, child(ren), adopted family member, executor or similar.

Defence has adopted this broader definition to help include those whom the veteran may have nominated as their next of kin.

The full definition, types and evidence you need to prove your relationship can be found under ‘A Person of Sufficient Interest criteria and definition’.

Receiving your restorative measures

You can elect to receive eligible restorative measures in one of two ways.

A Service ceremony or event

A member of the appropriate Service will contact you to make arrangements for the ceremony or event within six months of your application.

Any restorative measures not ready by the ceremony or event date may be posted to you separately.

Postal delivery

Defence will try to post restorative measures in one delivery, or in as few deliveries as possible.

The timeline for delivery is dependent on the measures you’ve applied for. But you should receive your first delivery of restorative measures within six months of applying.

Section 1 – New restorative measures

All of the restorative measures in this section are available now.

This section provides information on each restorative measure, including eligibility and how to apply.

Table of eligibility

Restorative measure All veterans Serving personnel A Person of Sufficient Interest
Individual letters of apology from relevant Service Chief of Staff (recommendation 2) Yes Yes Yes
Replacement beret and/or cap badge (recommendation 7) Yes N/A Yes
Publishing of Service details in The Gazette (recommendation 8) Former officers only N/A Former officers only
Etherton Ribbon (recommendation 10) Yes Yes Yes
Written reproduction of the Prime Minister’s apology (recommendation 14) Yes Yes Yes
Option to receive restorative measures in a Service ceremony/event (recommendation 15) Yes Yes Yes
Replacement discharge papers where a discharge or dismissal is disregarded/ qualified/ nullified (recommendation 27) Yes N/A Yes
Opportunity to provide testimony to form part of the historic record (recommendation 49) Yes Yes Yes
Restoration of rank/ commission (recommendation 3) Yes N/A Where there are no related convictions
Qualification of an administrative discharge (recommendation 26) Yes N/A Yes

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

Letter of apology from Service Chief of Staff

Description

You can apply for an individual letter from the relevant Service Chief of Staff apologising for the unacceptable treatment you, and others received during the ban.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use the service details to confirm service during the ban. No further evidence is required.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

You can choose to receive this in a Service ceremony/event, or by post.

Replacement beret and/or cap badge

Description

You can apply for a replacement beret and/or cap badge. Defence will provide the relevant cap badge wherever possible, but if the cap badge has been retired, we will provide a modern alternative.

Eligibility

  • A veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use the service details to confirm service during the ban. No further evidence is required.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

You can choose to receive this in a Service ceremony/event, or by post.

Please note that veterans impacted by the ban have the same limited rights to wear uniform and use retired commissioned rank in correspondence as any other veteran when authorised. Any historic orders or correspondence to the contrary should be disregarded.

Service details published in The Gazette

Description

If you are a former officer you can apply to have your service details published in The Gazette, as part of the official record. This is an alternative to reinstating former officers to the Service Retired List (as this is no longer published).

Eligibility

  • A former officer who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased former officer who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use the Service details to confirm Service as an officer during the ban. No further evidence is required.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

Confirmation of the veteran’s details being published will be sent via post or email.

Transgender veterans should refer to ‘Guidance for transgender veterans’ below.

Etherton Ribbon

Description

You can apply for an Etherton Ribbon as an alternative to a special veterans’ badge for those who served at the time of the ban.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

Written reproduction of the Prime Minister’s apology

Description

You can apply for a written reproduction of the Prime Minister’s apology in the House of Commons on 19 July 2023, to those affected by the ban.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use the service details to confirm service during the ban. No further evidence is required.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

You can choose to receive this in a Service ceremony/event, or by post.

Transgender veterans should refer to ‘Guidance for transgender veterans’ below.

Receiving restorative measures in a Service ceremony/event

Description

You can choose to receive any restorative measures you are eligible for in a Service ceremony or event.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

A member of the appropriate Service will contact you to discuss and make arrangements.

Replacement discharge papers

Description

You can apply to have a Certificate of Service issued. Please note, discharge reasons are not stated on the Certificate of Service.

Eligibility

  • A veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use service details to confirm that replacement discharge papers are appropriate. No further evidence is required.

To note, if you have applied for the qualification of administrative discharge, or the restoration of rank, these actions will need to be completed before we can issue a Certificate of Service. 

Application

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

You can choose to receive this in a Service ceremony/event, or by post. You can also indicate whether you would like your Service Number included on the certificate.

Provide testimony to form part of the historic record

Description

You can submit testimony to Defence which will be added to those given to the Review and submitted to The National Archive. This will form part of the historic record of the ban.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served during and was affected by the ban.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who served during and was affected by the ban.

Defence will use the service details to confirm service during the ban. No further evidence is required.

Application

Complete the Application and Registration of Interest form, and then submit your testimony via email to lgbt-furthertestimonies@mod.gov.uk.

The form and template can be found at LGBT veterans: testimony template.

Restoration of rank/commission

Description

You can apply to restore your rank and/or commission in Service records held by Defence if you were reduced in rank, as a result of a discharge or dismissal, because of the Ban.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you are:

  • a veteran who was reduced in rank as a result of a discharge or dismissal due to the Ban
  • a Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who was reduced in rank as a result of a discharge or dismissal due to the Ban

Any convictions must first be disregarded.

How to apply

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

Qualification of an administrative discharge

Description

You can apply to have an administrative discharge, which was based solely on sexual orientation or gender identity, or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, qualified.

Successful applicants’ records will be amended or annotated to record the discharge reason as being “pursuant to a policy, subsequently held by the European Court of Human Rights to be unlawful”.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you are:

  • a veteran who was administratively discharged during the Ban, solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity
  • a Person of Sufficient Interest to a deceased veteran who was administratively discharged during the Ban, which was based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity, or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity

How to apply

Complete the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

You will be exempted from any call out or recall liability (as applicable), which may result from the qualification of an administrative discharge. However, if you would like to accept any extant call out or recall liability (as applicable), please contact LGBT-RestorativeAction@mod.gov.uk.

Engaging in Service events and with LGBT networks

Description

Veterans, serving personnel and loved ones can connect with each other at Service events, conferences, community functions and LGBT Networks.

Eligibility

  • A veteran or service person who served in the UK Armed Forces.
  • A Person of Sufficient Interest to a veteran who served in the UK Armed Forces.

Application

The Royal Navy is developing an online platform to help veterans stay in touch with current personnel and networks, which will launch in 2025.

In the meantime, veterans can sign up to the Royal Navy LGBT Network’s newsletter by emailing NAVY-LGBTQNetworkMAILBOX@mod.gov.uk. You can also follow the LGBT Network on Facebook and X  (formerly twitter).

British Army – you can engage with Regimental Associations; the full list is at COBSEO. You can also follow the Army LGBT Network on Instagram and X (formerly twitter). Or contact them via email Army-LGBT-Network-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Royal Air Force – you can connect via the RAF Alumni page on the RAF Galaxy platform. You can also follow the RAF LGBT Network on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly twitter). Or contact them via email Air-LGBTQNetwork@mod.gov.uk.

Section 2 – Pre-existing restorative measures

The restorative measures in this section were already in progress, or available, before the LGBT Veterans Independent Review was published. This means they have different application forms and processes to the new restorative measures in section one.

This section provides information on each restorative measure, including eligibility, and signposting to application forms.

Table of eligibility

Restorative measure All veterans Serving personnel A Person of Sufficient Interest*
Armed Forces Veterans’ Badge (recommendation 4) Yes N/A Only those in receipt of a War Widow’s/Widowers pension and recipients of the Survivors Guaranteed Income Payment
Restoration of medals withheld or withdrawn (recommendations 5 & 6) Yes N/A Where there are no related convictions
HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Card (recommendation 9) Yes N/A N/A
The Disregard & Pardon scheme (recommendation 25) Yes Yes N/A

Armed Forces Veterans’ Badge

Description

You can apply for a free HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Lapel Badge. The badge aims to raise the profile of our veterans, helping the public to recognise your Service.

Eligibility

If you have served in HM Armed Forces, including Volunteer and Regular Reserves.

You cannot apply if you served in the armed forces of another country or if you served alongside the UK Armed Forces, for example, in the Royal Australian Air Force or Royal Canadian Navy.

Only next of kin in receipt of a War Widow’s/Widower’s pension and recipients of the Survivors Guaranteed Income Payment.

Application

Search Apply for a medal or veterans’ badge and complete the form on GOV.UK.

You can also find the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

If your application is successful, the badge will be posted to you.

Restoration of medals

Description

If you were discharged or dismissed solely on the basis of your sexuality, you can apply for any medals that were withheld or forfeited as a result.

Eligibility

Veterans who earned a medal(s) during service in any of the following:

  • Royal Navy
  • Royal Marines
  • Army
  • Royal Air Force
  • Home Guard
  • Reserve forces

Any related convictions will first need to be Disregarded.

You must meet the eligibility requirements for the medal you’re applying for.

Application

Search Military Awards Commemorations on GOV.UK.

You can also find the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

If your application is successful, the medal will be posted to you.

HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

Description

If you served in the UK Armed Forces, you are eligible for a HM Armed Forces Veteran Card.

The cards allow veterans to easily verify their Service to the NHS, their local authority, and charities. This helps with accessing support and services where needed.

Eligibility

Veterans who served in the UK Armed Forces and have a UK address.

Application

You do not need to apply for the HM Armed Forces Veterans card if you left the Armed Forces after 16 December 2018, as Defence automatically issues this to all Service leavers.

If you left on, or before 16 December 2018, the online application process can be found at HM Armed Forces Veteran Card.

The application process for veterans who live abroad is expected to launch in 2025. Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures will be updated when this is available.

Disregard and Pardon scheme

Description

If you have a conviction for same-sex sexual activity under an offence which has since been repealed or abolished, you can apply to have the conviction disregarded – meaning it will be removed from official records.

Eligibility

Anyone with a historical conviction for same-sex sexual activity under an offence that has now been repealed or abolished is eligible to apply.

Application

Search Disregards and pardons for historical gay sex convictions and complete the form on GOV.UK.

You can also find the application form at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: apply for non-financial restorative measures.

A Person of Sufficient Interest criteria and definition

A Person of Sufficient Interest, including next of kin, is someone who had a long-standing, close personal relationship with the deceased person, who could be expected to represent the wishes of the deceased. This may be a relative, spouse, civil partner, long-term partner, child(ren), adopted family member or similar.

Defence has adopted this broader definition to help include those whom the veteran may have nominated as their next of kin.

All applications submitted by a Person of Sufficient Interest must be supported by evidence submitted to the Defence Restorative Action team via email to LGBT-RestorativeAction@mod.gov.uk.

Your email should include your name, the veteran’s name, and the veteran’s Service number to enable the team to allocate the evidence to the appropriate application.

This can be a difficult area to navigate. If you believe you should be considered as a Person of Sufficient Interest but aren’t listed below, please email LGBT-RestorativeAction@mod.gov.uk.

The table below shows the definitions of a Person of Sufficient Interest and the required evidence:

Person of Sufficient Interest types Evidence required
The personal representative of the deceased’s estate. This will be the Executor named on the Grant of Probate where the deceased had a will. This will be the Personal Representative named on the Letters of Administration where the deceased had no will. Certificate of death. Grant of Probate/Confirmation (only in Scotland) or Letters of Administration.
A person who is entitled to personal property under the proved will of the deceased (a beneficiary). Certificate of death. Will.
Official Next of Kin of the Deceased. This will be the first person from the following list who is still alive: surviving spouse or civil partner; children (or their descendants); parents, brothers or sisters (or their descendants); half siblings (or their descendants); grandparents; uncles or aunts (or their descendants); half uncles or aunts (or their descendants). Certificate of death. Proof of relation (this could include birth certificates, marriage certificate, adoption records etc).
A person who was in a relationship or living with the person who has died, at the time of the person’s death as their long-term partner. Certificate of death. Evidence of shared assets or long-term relationship (this could include Mortgage or Tenancy documents showing joint ownership or rental of a property; proof of joint responsibility for a child; joint bank account; proof that both partners’ names were on the Electoral Roll at a shared address; a Council Tax bill for the same property in joint names; loan documentation of major assets such as homes, cars; or major appliances in both partners’ names; utility bills in both names.
Any person who was treated as a child of the deceased; or Any person who immediately before the death of the deceased was being financially supported either wholly or partly, by the deceased. Certificate of death. Evidence of financial or domestic commitments (examples as above).

Guidance for transgender veterans

The application form will ask you for your full name and the name you used while serving if it is different. Defence needs your name during Service to locate your Service records.

For some of the restorative measures, Defence will need to use information from Service records to deliver the restorative measure.

If you are transitioning, or have transitioned, and have changed your name since serving and would like any correspondence or items to include your preferred name, please send a copy of your photo ID and evidence of your name change to LGBT-RestorativeAction@mod.gov.uk once you have submitted your application form.

You only need to submit evidence if you are applying for the following:

  • Publishing of details in The Gazette – Eligible former officers can apply to have their name, rank and date of retirement published in The Gazette (see ‘Service details published in The Gazette’). Defence will publish your current name once the requested evidence has been received.
  • Replacement discharge papers – Eligible veterans can apply to have a Certificate of Service issued (see ‘Replacement discharge papers’). Defence will issue this in your current name once the requested evidence has been received.

Service numbers are also included on Certificates of Service. If you would not like your Service number to be included, please state this on your application form.

Further information

If you have any questions or need more information on the restorative measures, you can:

You can also find a full list of support, welfare and advice channels listed at LGBT veterans: support and next steps.

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