'I had a criminal record for 56 years for being a lesbian - nobody told me'

Liz Stead, a 78-year-old woman, recently discovered that she had unknowingly carried a criminal record for being a lesbian in the military for 56 years. This shocking revelation came as a surprise to her, as she had no idea about the existence of this record. Liz was dismissed from the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1969 after her superiors found a love letter from her girlfriend. While she thought that was the end of her troubles, she later learned that she had also received a criminal conviction for what was termed 'perceived same-sex sexual activity. ' This conviction meant that she was penalized simply for being in love with another woman. Now, Liz is encouraging other women who may have faced similar situations to apply for a government program designed to help them clear their names. This initiative, known as the Disregards and Pardons Scheme, was expanded in 2023 to include women who were affected by outdated laws against homosexuality. Liz is one of 40 individuals in England and Wales who have had their convictions overturned since the program was updated. She first learned about her criminal record in December of last year while applying for a different scheme aimed at helping those who were unfairly treated due to their sexuality. Initially, her application was denied because of her criminal record, but she was later informed that she could seek a pardon from the Home Office. Liz was astonished to learn about the charges against her and now reflects on how this record may have influenced her life. She stated, 'I can think of one job where it might have been the reason I didn't get it. ' Having worked in local government for most of her life, Liz is left wondering if her past had any impact on her career opportunities. In 2012, the government initiated a program to assist individuals who were historically convicted for consensual same-sex activities in having those convictions removed from official records. This program was expanded in 2023 to include women who were affected by the pre-2000 ban on LGBT+ service members. Since the expansion, 40 individuals have received pardons, with the majority being granted to former military personnel. Liz is now actively encouraging other women who may have had interactions with law enforcement or who were discharged from the military due to their sexuality to apply for the program to determine if they have any unknown convictions. She expressed, 'I can't think how it is on my records and I've never known about it, but I can't be the only one. ' Earlier this year, Liz attended a special 'restorative action ceremony' alongside her wife, Stevie, to celebrate her return to the military family. Liz served in the RAF for three and a half years and had an exemplary record, but was expelled when her superiors investigated her relationship and discovered love letters between her and her girlfriend. She was interrogated by the Special Investigation Branch, the military police's detective arm, which often focused on same-sex sexual activity at that time. The partial decriminalization of homosexuality in the UK began in 1967 with the passing of the Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalized homosexual acts between men over the age of 21 in England and Wales. In Scotland, the law changed in 1980, and in Northern Ireland, it was amended in 1982. However, homosexuality remained illegal in the British armed forces until the year 2000, when the European Court of Human Rights intervened. As part of the recent changes, Liz was invited to a ceremony to return her medals and be welcomed back into the military family. Although this day was once a cherished memory for her, she now feels it is 'tainted' because of her criminal record. She admitted that she might have considered not attending had she known about it at the time. Peter Gibson, the CEO of the LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride, which assisted Liz in applying for the pardon, emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for all LGBT+ veterans who suffered under the harsh ban. He stated, 'Lives and careers were ruined under that gay ban. ' Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips remarked that criminal records for same-sex relationships 'should never have existed in the first place. ' She added, 'Each pardon represents real changes to real lives. ' Phillips urged anyone with convictions under these unjust laws to apply for the scheme, emphasizing that they deserve justice and that the government is committed to rectifying these historical wrongs.