The Federal Government has announced that it will apologise to LGBTIQA+ military veterans who faced discrimination because of who they were, but will they receive financial redress?
During debate on military justice legislation in the Senate today, the Government announced it will apologise to former LGBTIQA+ service members who faced discrimination and issue them a Certificate of Honourable Service.
This is an important step towards acknowledging the harm caused by decades of discrimination.
“An apology is welcome and long overdue,” said Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Senator Nick McKim. “But it must come from the Prime Minister as well as the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.”
But McKim said, “An apology given in the Parliament by the Prime Minister would create a moment for genuine national reckoning, reflection and healing.”
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‘Apologies matter, but so does the acknowledgment of harm’
McKim affirmed that any apology “must be accompanied by financial redress for LGBTIQA+ personnel and veterans who were punished simply because of who they were. People lost employment, income and housing, and many suffered profound impacts on their mental health.”
“Financial redress cannot undo that harm, but it would provide a tangible acknowledgement of the injustices that were inflicted. The Government should establish an inquiry to determine the appropriate amount of redress and how it should be provided. Apologies matter, but so does the acknowledgment of harm through the provision of redress.”
McKim added on the Senate floor that the Greens support a Senate inquiry into redress.
Redress for former LGBTIQA+ service personnel who were discriminated against and discharged because of who they were is allowed in Canada and the UK.
Australia should follow their lead.
‘Apologies matter, but so does the acknowledgment of harm’
Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed “an apology as an important step towards healing the wounds of the past.”
Croome added that “financial redress is also required for those who suffered discrimination and dishonourable discharge because of who they were”.
“LGBTIQA+ veterans who faced discrimination, including dishonourable discharge, suffered the loss of employment, income and sometimes housing, a loss of self-confidence and sometimes severe impacts on mental health. Many also suffered the loss of a vocation and a sense of purpose that military service bestowed. Redress is not intended as full compensation for all these harms, but it will acknowledge the injustice that was inflicted.”
Most state and territory governments have apologised for former criminal laws against homosexuality. Last year Tasmania became the first to allow financial redress for those charged and convicted under former state laws against homosexuality and against cross-dressing.
“Apologies matter, but so does the acknowledge of harm through the provision of redress.”
“We call for an inquiry to hear from LGBTIQA+ veterans, and to determine what the redress amounts should be and how they should be disbursed.”
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
I been fighting this well over 20 years. I’m so glad to see they’re finally seeing the way us queer people were treated in the military. No money no apology will ever change the mental and physical health issues they have caused.