In accordance with European Union court rulings, Britain ended its ban on lesbians and gay men in the military and introduced a new sexual conduct code that does not distinguish between heterosexual and homosexual behavior by military personnel.
Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon of the Labor Party told the House of Commons yesterday “As no primary or secondary legislation is required, with effect from today, homosexuality will no longer be a bar to service in Britain’s armed forces.”
Britain’s new military policy will allow former members of the military who were dismissed for being gay to re-apply for military service, and all actions against current service members will be dropped.
