Emma Riley, a Brighton-based LGBTQ+ navy veteran, has been named Hero of the Year at the British Diversity Awards for her efforts to get a rule banning LGBTQ+ people from the navy overturned by taking the UK to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Emma, who discharged from her role as a Royal Navy radio operator in the ‘90s after telling a colleague about her sexuality, took the UK to the ECHR to challenge the ban and helped change the UK law in 2000 to allow LGBTQ+ people to serve in the military.
Thousands of veterans are thought to be affected by laws that were in place until 2000 that made it illegal to be gay in the British military. A government spokesperson has since said their treatment between 1967 and 2000 was “wholly unacceptable” and encouraged LGBTQ+ veterans to “apply for restorative measures online”.
Emma spoke to Kathy Caton on BBC Radio Sussex, saying her treatment in the navy was “humiliating and ridiculous” and “incredibly ostracising”. She added it was “quite mind-blowing” to receive the award,” and “I feel I’ve taken something pretty horrific and tried to make something good.”
A government spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBTQ+ serving personnel between 1967 and 2000, which was wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today’s Armed Forces, and thank those that have come forward to share their stories.
“We have already implemented over half of the recommendations of the LGBTQ+ veterans review and are working at pace to deliver those that remain.
“We will be providing more information as soon as we can and encourage LGBTQ+ veterans to apply for restorative measures online.”