LGBTQ+ former service personnel join WRAC in Great Brum Run fundraising

Members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) Association will be joining the Great Birmingham Run this weekend, and among them will be several LGBTQ+ ex-personnel. The group will come together to raise money for the WRAC Association: The Servicewomen’s Charity, and Fighting with Pride which supports LGBTQ+ veterans affected by the Armed Forces Gay Ban which wasn’t lifted until the year 2000.

Paula Rogers, WRACA’s Chief Executive Officer explains: “The Women's Royal Army Corps was formed in 1949 at the closure of the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service), subsequently being disbanded in 1992 when women were incorporated alongside their male counterparts throughout the British Army. We believe somewhere around 60% of the women who served in the WRAC were gay, and certainly a good number of those running this weekend are gay women.

“Until 2000, it was illegal to be gay in the British Armed forces, which meant that gay people who served did so inauthentically and under the fear or being found out. Many were investigated, and great soldiers, sailors and aviators were robbed of their careers through dismissal, or 'jumping before being pushed'. Today LGBTQ+ personnel serve proudly alongside their peers in a diverse and inclusive military."

She adds: “Lord Etherton's Independent Review heard evidence from many people who served under the 'ban', and as part of the recommendations, those affected are entitled to reparations.”

Midlands Rainbow spoke to Lesley; one of the women who gave The WRAC Association the opportunity to apologise for the treatment she received, becoming one of the 46 women to be welcomed back by the Servicewomen’s Charity. She is also one of the women joining the WRAC Lionesses to run and fundraise at this weekend’s Great Run in Birmingham.

Lesley told Midlands Rainbow: “I can't explain how awful things got for gay people who served under the ban. I was relatively young when I joined up, just over 18. I honestly didn't know I was gay when I joined up; especially as I had split from my boyfriend to join up.

“I did my 6 weeks Basic Training in Guildford, followed by a 6-month Physical Training Course in Aldershot. I passed both courses but, during the PTI course, I had started seeing another lady off of the course. Again, I didn't know it was illegal at the time. However, on my first day in Aldershot, I soon realised that it was illegal to be gay in the WRAC. The RSM greeted me in her office and gave me such a dressing down for something that had happened at the end of our course; I had had no idea of. So, that was us being very coy, very under hand, being very evasive when we'd come back from a weekend away. It turned us into becoming inauthentic to ourselves. We would stay out of barracks whenever we had the chance to do so.

[Left: Lesley received her WRAC Association presentation in 2024 in Guildford.] [Right: Lesley and wife Jackie after the Great Bristol Run 2024]

“Not all of our lives were like this, for example, when I played Army level sport, we really were like a team of real friends; no matter what rank we were, while we trained, while we played and while we socialised.”

“The importance of the lifting of the ban is enormous. If I was able to serve, prior to the illegal ban being in place, I could have 'been myself', lived as I had wanted to, with who I had wanted to and how we wanted to.

“I am really pleased the illegal ban has now been lifted. Many, many, people can now join up and live their life; the way they want to.”

The WRAC now supports and welcomes back the women who were affected by the ban.

Paula adds: “The WRAC Association is an inclusive joyful membership organisation where all women who served or are currently serving in the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. We want all female identifying members of the LGBTQ+ community who have served in the British Armed Forces to know there is a warm welcome within our Association.

She confirms that trans women are included saying: “we are pleased to have several trans women members who have found a warm welcome with us”, and adds that trans men are also welcome if they served with the WRAC.

Wendy Hooton, a voluntary fundraiser with the Association who’s co-ordinating the team for the run, says: “It’s important to remember the women who served and still serve, some of whom make the ultimate sacrifice.

“The support given by the WRAC Association is a lifeline for many who live alone and those who are less able. “We still have ladies who served in WW2, many now 100 years old. We’re one large family and are there to help each other. It’s fabulous that no matter where you may be in the country there will always be someone nearby who could help you if needed. We are a disbanded corps so rely on legacies, donations and fundraising.

A J Bell’s Great 10K Run in Birmingham takes place on Sunday 3^rd May. The Women's Royal Army Corps Lionesses hope to raise £6,000 for the charities.