RAINBOW flags have been flown at HM Naval Base Clyde to mark 20 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBT men and women serving in the armed forces.
Sailors at Faslane were joined by Royal Marines from 43 Commando on Friday in marking the anniversary, which saw flags raised at key locations across the UK, including the Navy's three main bases, at Faslane, Portsmouth and Devonport.
Navy personnel also attended a House of Commons reception to celebrate the milestone, which comes a year after the rainbow flag was flown at Faslane for the first time.
Commander Sam Kinsey-Briggs is the co-chair of Compass, the sexual orientation and gender identity network of the Naval Service.
LATEST HEADLINES: Plan for major hotel and office development in Helensburgh goes public
Cdr Kinsey-Briggs, who attended the reception in Parliament on Thursday night, said: “I was honoured to attend this special occasion.
“Celebrating 20 years since lifting the ban with fellow service personnel and our veterans, some who lost their careers, was humbling and inspiring.
“It’s about celebrating the wider diversity agenda and contribution all our people make. It’s especially relevant for me as we celebrate 30 years of women at sea this year too.”
Lieutenant Aaron Wilding, who also attended the reception, joined the Royal Navy before the ban was lifted.
READ MORE: Faslane first as LGBT rainbow flag is flown at naval base
He said: “Having joined the Navy before the ban was lifted, I have lived through the transition process and on a personal level I now feel so proud to feel liberated enough to be my true self.
“I spent so many years holding back on who I was but now I feel that being allowed to be myself allows me to give my all.
“I joined the Royal Navy to serve my country and I have faith that I work for an organisation that stands for honesty, openness and integrity.
"In order to defend our nation, we need to be representative of what that is.”
LATEST HEADLINES: Woman charged with serious assault after Hogmanay 'lamp attack' in Kilcreggan
Rainbow flags have been raised at key locations across the UK including the Royal Navy’s three main naval bases in Portsmouth, Devonport and Faslane.
Fleet Air Arm personnel at RNAS Yeovilton and Royal Marines from 43 Commando in Faslane also flew the flag to mark the anniversary.
In Portsmouth, the Naval Base Headquarters has been floodlit in rainbow colours all week and banners adorned lamp posts around the base.
Lieutenant Commander Jenny Dunford, from Portsmouth Naval Base, said: “For a while now, generations of people joining the Royal Navy simply don’t rate sexuality as a quality of any more importance than eye colour.
“I would highly recommend the armed forces to people of any sexuality and assure them they can be safe in the knowledge that hard work and the ability to bring your whole self to work is the key to reward and our overall operational capability.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here