http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2008/10/gay-day-mayday.html03/10/2008
Gay day maydayThese are time tumultous times for the Armed Forces. As I noted earlier this week, General Sir Richard Dannatt, the outspoken Chief of the General Staff, is to be replaced by the Commander in Chief of UK land forces, General Sir David Richards.
Now I learn Dannatt is about to meet homosexual soldiers in an undisclosed location in London next week as part of gay campaigning group Stonewall's attempts to promote gay rights in the Army. He will attend the British Army sponsored Fourth Joint Service Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) Matters.
The love that dare not speak its name has long been a thorny issue for the Army but homosexual soldiers are said to be an unrepresented part of it. So how many soldiers will Dannatt meet on his top secret assignment?
"It could be a battalion or a whole regiment," says my mole. "A lot of gay soldiers are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan so they can't all attend."
The Fourth Joint Service Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Matters is open to all Service personnel but attendance from the LGBT community and junior ranks/ratings is particularly encouraged. MOD civil servants are also invited to attend. Gen Dannatt is well used to speaking up for his men. He is thought to have displeased the Government with his criticism of poor pay and accommodation for soldiers and for suggesting that British troops were part of the problem in Iraq.
