Recently I have been delighted to connect with Matt from Fighting With Pride, a charity which supports the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Veterans, service personnel and their families – in particular those most impacted by the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces, ultimately lifted on the 12th January 2000. Before then, thousands of LGBT+ service personnel were removed or forced from service and abandoned, after serving with pride. It is the aim of the charity to restore the military covenant and bring this community back into the military family.
Matt’s (He/Him/His) role is Veterans Community Worker East of England. He previously worked in the NHS where he supported patients and family members with concerns and complaints, with a view to improving the overall service. Matt is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and decided he wanted to continue helping people and supporting veterans.
He explained;
‘We are proud of the achievements of our serving LGBTQ+ personnel. They serve in every part of the Armed Forces and are supported at every level of command.
In stark contrast, and despite the passing of over 20 years since the ‘gay ban’ was finally lifted, no attempt has been made to support the recovery of the thousands of LGBTQ+ service personnel dismissed or forced from service prior to 2000.
We want to connect service charities and organisations to those LGBTQ+ veterans who have been left behind.’
Fighting With Pride are working with veteran supporting organisations to build capacity for LGBT+ Veteran support; to recognise their service and help resolve the challenges they face in their lives beyond military service.
The Fighting With Pride team pledge that they will do everything they can to provide useful information and signpost ways to get help and are working with a wide range of organisations to make sure that our LGBTQ+ Veterans receive a warm welcome wherever they seek help. They are proud of the fact that their specialism lies in the ‘lived experience’ of their team.
As the Armed Forces LGBTQ+ Charity, they are here to listen, understand and support, and welcome contacts via telephone 0203 981 3810 or email [email protected]
If you would like to access support around any of the issues mentioned in this blog, or to share your own lived experience, give the Healthwatch Essex Information & Guidance Service a call on 0300 500 1895, email [email protected] or text/WhatsApp on 07712 395398.
Sharon Westfield de Cortez
Information & Guidance Manager