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Navy veterans' lives 'blighted' by gay ban

Jo Couzens & Annabelle Ariyanayagam
BBC News
Portsmouth Historic Quarter / Fighting with Pride A black and white photo shows a man in white naval uniform, holding an old-fashioned camera. He is smiling as he looks just to the side of the camera taking his picture. He appears to be standing on board a ship and a small section of sea can be seen behind him.Portsmouth Historic Quarter / Fighting with Pride
Former Sub Lt Roly Woods hid his sexuality while serving in the Royal Navy

"You were living a double life, always looking over your shoulder."

As Portsmouth finds itself at the heart of UK Pride this weekend, an iconic war vessel in the Hampshire city has been covered in rainbow colours to also mark 25 years since a ban on LGBT people serving in the military was lifted.

Portsmouth Historic Quarter and military charity Fighting with Pride came together last month to celebrate LGBTQ+ veterans, by wrapping Landing Craft F8 in rainbow colours.

Portsmouth navy veterans have been speaking to the BBC about their experiences serving in the military under the ban.

Until January 2000, the "gay ban" saw many LGBT people who served their country face dishonourable discharge, loss of medals and criminal charges because of their sexuality.

PA Media Royal Navy Landing Craft Foxtrot 8 which was used in the Falklands War wrapped in Pride colours to mark the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on gay people serving in the UK armed forcesPA Media
Landing Craft F8 has been wrapped in rainbow colours at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Roly Woods is a former Sub Lt in the Royal Navy who served on HMS Leeds Castle during the Falklands War.

He said he hid his sexuality so that he could continue his military career.

"At one stage during my naval career, I was challenged by my commanding officer, who heard rumours that I had been seen by officers with a man," he said.

"I was called up to his office, sat down, and plainly asked – 'are you gay":[]}