Scroll To Top
World

Gay British navy
personnel to march in London pride parade

Gay British navy
personnel to march in London pride parade

U.K. military officials have given the go-ahead for gay and lesbian navy personnel to march in full uniform for the first time in the kingdom's annual gay pride celebrations. This Saturday, more than 40 sailors--from able seamen to Royal Navy Reserve commanders--are expected to lead the EuroPride parade through London, just six years after a landmark legal ruling allowed gay people to serve openly in the armed forces. The Independent reports that the proposal to participate in the march was first discussed earlier this year by the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Johns, at a conference organized by gay rights group Stonewall. Stonewall's chief executive, Ben Summerskill, said the navy should be congratulated for its gay-friendly policies, adding that he hoped the army and Royal Air Force would follow the navy's example. In 1999 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that gay people had a legal right to serve in the armed forces. Before then, they faced being thrown out if their sexuality was discovered. (Sirius OutQ News)

Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Outtraveler Staff