Here at RDDS our charity work is very important to us, one of these charities is ‘Fighting with Pride’ showing our support our HR Assistant Finny recentlty attended ‘Pride in Service’ here is what she had to say:

As part of our ongoing relationship with the charity Fighting with Pride, and to celebrate Pride month, I recently attended ‘Pride in Service’ day. Held at the RAF museum in London, this day was a special celebration of the LGBTQ+ community currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as of LGBTQ+ veterans; whom the charity are continually championing and supporting. The day included lots of performances, storytelling, and the opening of a new installation. The event was a great opportunity to learn about the work and initiatives Fighting with Pride are currently leading, and to truly understand more about the experiences of the Armed Forces queer community.

I met the representatives of Fighting with Pride at the charity’s stand on the day, and they told me all about their current work; including the Financial Recognition Scheme. The scheme is for veterans who served between 1967-2000 and were adversely impacted by the ban on LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the Armed Forces. It is a sign of great progress that veterans are getting the recognition and reparations they deserve. The deadline for the scheme is in December, so the charity are now focusing on spreading the word as far as possible, so everyone who needs the scheme can access it. Since the charity was set up in 2020, FWP have reached many milestones and supported countless veterans; through reparations, encouraging formal government apologies and commitments, fighting for dedicated funding to the cause, creating memorials and artwork, connecting veterans with support services, and so much more.

One of the most impactful moments of Pride in Service Day for me, was watching the performance by the London Gay Men’s chorus. They are an immensely talented group, promoting unity through music. Watching them perform, I was reminded of the power of groups, moments, and events like this; creating spaces where queer people can feel safe and experience joy together- each person in the choir was so happy to be singing and sharing love and music with everyone in the room.

Pride in Service Day also marked the opening of Veteran artist David Tovey’s installation ‘The Echoes and Shadows of Identity’. Created in collaboration with LGBTQ+ veterans and serving personnel, the installation demonstrates the imprisonment, isolation, and alienation that came with the historic ‘gay ban’. It’s essential that we listen to these stories and understand the lived experience of individuals who have been silenced or dismissed- we now have more opportunities to learn about their history, as well as how we can offer support now. Thanks to occasions like this and charities like Fighting with Pride, amplifying voices and bringing these narratives into our everyday lives and wider society, we feel more hope than ever for the future of the Armed Forces.

The ban is one part of the country’s history that we don’t hear talked about enough, and having an installation in a prominent museum is an important step in improving our shared understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ+ veterans. The exhibition also served as a reminder that the ending of the ban did not simply eradicate homophobia and transphobia within the armed forces; although much has improved, many serving personnel still experience hostile attitudes and discrimination, and this must change- this is one of the many reasons we support Fighting with Pride; because we believe in the power of an inclusive, respectful environment for all. Education, through words, song, and art, remains an essential tool in encouraging progress in inclusion.

It was great to see the difference that Fighting with Pride are making to the lives of veterans and current Armed Forces members, and we continue to be proud of our connection to the first and only LGBTQ+ military charity. At RDDS, one of our core values is the idea that our diversity is our strength- diversity of experiences, ideas, backgrounds; make up a team full of unique contributions. This same idea is true of the Armed Forces – and every individual making a brave commitment to their country should feel respected, included, and able to be their unique self. ‘Fighting with Pride’ means that people can take on their important role whilst being proud of their identity. Make sure to visit Fighting with Pride’s website here to stay updated, and learn how you can support the charity too- you can also make a donation to the charity through our JustGiving page here.