Chris Dennis, an 80-year-old RAF veteran, has publicly voiced his disappointment at being ineligible for LGBT reparations after being discharged from the army in 1966 for his sexual orientation. The government recently established a compensation scheme for LGBT personnel who served between 1967 and 2000, acknowledging the injustices faced by those affected by the ban on gay individuals in the military. However, Dennis's case does not fall within this timeframe, leaving him feeling overlooked and further marginalized.

The compensation scheme has seen millions distributed to veterans who served during the specified period, yet Dennis's experience highlights a significant gap in the policy that fails to address the needs of those who faced discrimination prior to 1967. He feels that the inability to access reparations is a second punishment for an offense that should never have been a crime in the first place. The refusal he received regarding his application was merely a standard response, lacking any acknowledgment of the personal hardship he endured following his court martial.

Dennis's story sheds light on the ongoing struggles that LGBT veterans face concerning recognition and reparations for historical injustices. As advocates continue to push for broader inclusion and support for all affected veterans, Dennis's plight serves as a poignant reminder of the long history of discrimination within the military and the importance of addressing past grievances to ensure equity within the military community.