Incompatible with Service Life

Carl Austin-Behan

25 years ago the ban on LGBT+ people serving in the British Armed Forces was removed.

When in 1967 homosexuality was legalised in British society, at the same time new legislation came into effect which forbade gay personnel from serving in the Armed Forces.

On 12 January 2000 this law was repealed after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it violated Article 8 of the Human Rights Act: the right to a private and family life.

During the ban, anyone discovered to be gay could be subjected to arrest, interrogation, examination, imprisonment, and dismissal. To mark this important anniversary, the RAF Museum has been recording the experiences of those affected by the ban, with help from the military charity for dismissed LGBT+ veterans, Fighting with Pride , and the RAF LGBT+ Freedom Network of currently serving personnel.

Each month we will share the perspectives of a selection of people who will discuss the impact of the ban and their treatment by the RAF at the time, which had a lasting effect on their lives.

This month, in our third video, we are sharing a clip from Carl Austin-Behan.

During his service as a firefighter in the Royal Air Force, Carl Austin-Behan rescued a pilot from a burning aircraft.

He was awarded the Good Show Award for Bravery, The Royal Human Society Bronze Award and received a mention in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

In 1997 Carl was dismissed from the RAF after his sexuality came to light in a time where being Homosexual in the British Armed Forces was not permitted.

Carl was crowned Mr Gay UK in 2001 and would later become Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor, using both positions to promote the achievements and contributions of the LGBT community.

In the above video Carl talks about what it was about how his dismissal from the RAF that upset him the most.

Learn more about Carl’s story and the stories other current and former serving members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the RAF, here.