Heart of the Matter | Falling Out

For over 30 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales it remained a cause for instant dismissal and even court martial within the armed forces. In this report, filmed eight years before the ban was lifted, Joan Bakewell meets a gay man and a lesbian whose careers were brought to an end and their lives devastated because of allegations about their sexuality. Bakewell also hears them describe the often brutal way in which these allegations were investigated. She also hears from British Army representatives, including a former NATO commander-in-chief, who argues that it is essential to ensure that homosexuality is kept out of the military.

The ban on gay and lesbian people serving in the UK's armed forces was eventually lifted in 1999. A news report about the change in the law is also available in this collection.