UK veterans ‘forced to resign’ for being gay launch legal action against MoD

Steven Stewart and Mark Shephard claim in high court that LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme is ‘structurally unfair’ Two veterans who were forced to resign for being gay due to a ban on LGBT personnel in the armed forces have launched legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over a scheme set up to compensate them. Steven Stewart, 55, and Mark Shephard, 49, who were both “effectively forced to resign” from the military due to their sexuality, and faced “enduring psychological and relational harm”, are taking legal action against the MoD over the rules of the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, with their lawyers telling the high court that it is “structurally unfair”. Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the two men, confirmed on Tuesday that a legal claim had been filed, with no hearing date set. Gay men and lesbian women were banned from serving in the British military until 2000. About 200-250 were thrown out each year because of their sexuality, though the exact figures are not known, as proper records were not retained. In 2024, Labour ministers approved the creation of a £75m compensation scheme for the victims of the policy, which led to s