Neath Port Talbot council has pledged its support to current and former LGBTQ+ armed forces members who for years faced discrimination and risked legal action and losing their jobs, by signing up to the Pride in Veterans Standard (PiVS).
The standard has been established by the charity Fighting With Pride (FWP) which supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ veterans, service personnel and their families – in particular those most impacted by the ban on LGBT+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces prior to January 2000.
The charity offers befriending support from those with similar ‘lived experiences’ as well as practical guidance.
Signing up to the standard commits Neath Port Talbot Council to:
• Setting the highest standards for LGBT+ inclusion in NPT.
• Having an understanding of the Armed Forces “gay ban” and the impact this has had on all those affected by it.
• Providing the best possible support to LGBT+ Veterans, serving personnel and their families.
• Aligning with the FWPs mission to ensure that LGBT+ Veterans, serving personnel and their families are fully included within the Armed Forces Covenant – the Nation’s commitment to Veterans.
Cllr Tim Bowen, one of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Armed Forces Champions, said: “The Pride in Veterans Standard (PiVS) is a programme developed by Fighting with Pride and by signing up to it NPT demonstrates its commitment to being inclusive and welcoming to LGBT+ Veterans, serving personnel, and their families.”
Kevin Brazely, Fighting with Pride’s Interim PiVS Manager, who visited Neath Port Talbot on the signing of the standard, said: “Our Pride in veterans Standard Organisations are champions in the community showing that they are there, ready, willing, and able to support the needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans.
“Showing the PiVS logo lets veterans from the LGBTQ+ community know that they will be welcomed and treated with respect and understanding.
“Organisations like Neath Port Talbot Council being part of PiVS is so important in ensuring a wide reach to as many of those veterans as possible.”
On 12 December 2024, the Government announced the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS). This enables those impacted by the Ban while serving in HM Armed Forces, between 27 July 1967 and 11 January 2000, to apply for recognition payments.
The LGBT FRS was developed to meet Lord Etherton’s LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR) Report Reparation.
