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)