Britain’s Big Gay Pay Out

If only America hadn’t revolted against British rule. One month after apologizing for sacking gay soldiers, the Ministry of Defense has settled on a settlement valued at more than £3m.

The MoD lifted its gay ban back in 2000, but has struggled with how to address the injustice. Rather than admitted any illegality, the ministry has opted to play the privacy game, says Pink News UK:

The MoD said that compensation for around 60 former service personnel was being paid because their privacy had been breached, and not because the Armed Forces had acted illegally in dismissing them.

They say “tomato,” we say “about bloody time”.

Meanwhile, on the American front, Unitarian Univeralists have joined the battle against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

The 220,000-strong American congregation, which strives for “free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” concluded its annual General Assembly in Portland this weekend.

During that meeting, church leaders passed the The Action of Immediate Witness, which calls on Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. That act would repeal the Clinton-era DADT, which prohibits openly gay soldiers from serving in the armed services.

Retired Captain Joan Darrah, a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network activist who witnessed the “Immediate Witness” package, celebrated the news:

People of compassionate faith understand the importance of ending discrimination in our Armed Forces. SLDN salutes the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations for their tireless efforts in building grassroots momentum for repeal. Our nation must treat all service members with dignity and respect, but ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ denies that honor to our lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel.”

The revolution against the American government’s anti-gay tyranny continues. Hopefully they’ll start showing some compassion.