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All three armed services can now march at Pride
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Gay soldiers get the right to march in uniform at Pride
"The ban has been lifted in time for this year's event on 5th July"
Gay members of the Army will be allowed to march in uniform at Pride in London for the first time next month. The Equality and Human Rights Commission helped broker the move, which came when a member of the army approached Chair Trevor Phillips to express concern over the continued ban at a time when members of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are allowed to march in full uniform.
A meeting between Army officials and Pride organisers in the presence of Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill ensued with the outcome that the ban has been lifted in time for this year's event on 5th July, where gay men and lesbians in uniform - whether they be navy or police - always receive the biggest cheer from the crowds.
"Just nine years after the landmark ruling to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, I am delighted the Ministry of Defence has bravely given the go-ahead to march at Pride in uniform," says Mr. Phillips. "It will be a historic moment and a true sign of how much things have changed."
Summerskill added, "We know that this gesture will also be enormously appreciated by those lesbian and gay personnel currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan."
