Peter Gibson, Fighting With Pride’s chief executive, told BFBS Forces News that he felt the Ministry of Defence had not publicised the scheme as much as they could have. He explained: “The MoD has the entire armoury of government; they know where every veteran in this country is by pensions, the veteran’s railcard and ID card. They are not doing enough to promote the scheme.” Karen Usher was 21 when she joined the Royal Air Force back in 1990. She told the BBC that she was reported and admitted to hospital after she confided in a military chaplain about her sexuality. She said that she was then kept in isolation with the experience leading her to have a ‘mini-breakdown’. She said: "My head was such a mess, I look back and can't believe what I was put through at that age." Usher, now 56, says she "Some of the veterans, especially the older ones, were imprisoned for their sexuality," she told the BBC. "It's disgusting they could miss out on what they're entitled to." A spokesperson for the MoD said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000, which was wholly unacceptable and this is not representative of Defence today.” The last date for applications for The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme are December 12. More information can be found here. | 
