The Etherton Report

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 On 12 January 2000 this law was repealed after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it violated Article 8 of the Human Rights Act: the right to a private and family life.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 second video, we are sharing a clip from Tracy Footit.

Tracy joined the RAF Police in 1990 and faced a working environment not entirely welcoming to women. A combination of witnessing sexual harassment and assault and struggles with concealing her sexuality, led to Tracy’s mental health deteriorating.

In 1993, she was arrested with no evidence and forced to leave the service.

Tracy was one of over 1,000 people to submit their experience to Lord Etherton’s independent review into the treatment of LGBT veterans submitted in May 2023. In the clip above she talks about the report and the Etherton Ribbon she received.

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