It was great to attend a reception hosted by Stonewall and Fighting with Pride in Parliament this week to show support for LGBTQ+ service personnel.

Fighting with Pride is a military charity created on the 20th anniversary of the complete lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ service – the ‘gay ban’ – and continues to call for justice for LGBT personnel and veterans. 

Listening to the speeches of LGBTQ+ veterans was moving. I will continue to work alongside Stonewall and others to ensure LGBTQ+ service personnel get the support they deserve. They play a vital role in the military and it’s great to see their contributions recognised.

I will continue to support this issue, including working to ensure Lord Etherton’s recommendations from the independent review into the service and experience of LGBT veterans who served between 1967 to 2000 are implemented.