LGBT Airman receives apology for dismissal

A former RAF airman has received an official apology for having been dismissed from the service because of his sexuality.

Then senior aircraftman technician Mark Shephard was asked to leave the RAF abruptly in 1999.

Mr Shephard, from Taunton, received his apology from local MP Gideon Amos, on 13 December at County Hall.

The apology is part of a programme of restorative measures for those affected by the ban on LGBT servicepeople in the British military between 1967 and 2000.

During the ceremony, the RAF's chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, and director of people, Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards, apologised by video for the way that Mr Shephard had been treated.

Mr Amos, Taunton and Wellington Lib Dem MP, presented Mr Shephard with a commemorative box containing a signed apology letter, a new beret and a cap badge.

He also received the Etherton Ribbon, which was designed by serving and former LGBT servicemembers.

Former servicemen and women who were dismissed under the ban were now able to receive official recognition and an apology for the treatment they received at the time.

On being confronted in 1999, the senior aircraftman technician was presented with two options: leave immediately or apply for Premature Voluntary Release (PVR).

Mr Shephard felt he had "no choice but to put in my PVR", as leaving immediately would have required him to hand back a previous bonus.

"To be honest, I felt numb as after that first meeting, I had no contact with anyone senior.

"I had to carry on regardless, knowing I was being forced to leave.

"I didn't tell any friends or family until recently which was obviously a massive shock as they thought I had left of my own accord.

"When I joined, I didn't even know my sexuality was not permitted in the service.

"I'm very happy that I have been welcomed back into the RAF family."

Mr Shephard has continued to work with the military as a system support engineer for Aquila at RNAS Yeovilton.

The UK Government describes restorative measures on its website in the following ways:

• There are two sections - new restorative measures and pre-existing restorative measures
• New restorative measures are a result of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published in July 2023
• Former servicemembers dismissed for their sexuality have to apply for restorative measures rather than receiving them automatically due to the length of time since the ban was lifted and record-keeping deficiencies

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