Dame Kelly Holmes has expressed her fears of being jailed for being gay while serving in the British Army.
The former Olympic athlete, 52, who came out as gay in June, was joined by her panel on Loose Women on Monday as she spoke about her time as a sergeant in the British Army.
Because it was illegal for members of the ward to serve until 2000, many later struggled with homelessness, unemployment, and mental health issues while being forced to come out to their families.
Concern: Dame Kelly Holmes has expressed concern at being sent to prison for being gay while serving in the British Army (pictured on Loose Women in September)
She explained that many veterans have had a “humiliating” experience of being interrogated when allegations of homosexual activity are made.
Kelly told the fellow Loose Women on Monday: “It’s impacted me my entire life because when I got together at 18 you were told that law and I had an experience that like many veterans is absolutely humbling.
“Their rooms were ransacked and interrogated if there was any indication of it.
“There are thousands affected, many veterans who were believed to be homosexual, were court-martialed, jailed and thrown out.
“People have lost family members and a lot more.
Tragic: The former Olympic athlete, 52, who was revealed to be gay in June, explained that many veterans had a “humiliating” time when they were interrogated for being gay (pictured in 1995)
“I was ransacked and had the interrogation. If I had been caught, even a hint could have had everything taken from me.
“I would not have become a double Olympic champion or a member of the British service.
“I was insanely scared, and when I came out, I had to work those issues out. I was afraid that I might still go to prison.
“People who have served have lived that in their DNA for so long. I’m finally free, but it took many years.’
She is now urging former soldiers to provide evidence for an independent investigation into the scandal that led to queer soldiers and women being stripped of their honors, military pensions, firings and even prison sentences.
Opening up: Kelly (pictured second left on Monday) said she “would not have become a double Olympic champion or a member of the British Service” if it had been discovered she was gay
Because it was illegal for members of the ward to serve until 2000, many later struggled with homelessness, unemployment, and mental health issues while being forced to come out to their families.
She first realized she was a lesbian when she kissed another woman in the army in 1988.
She told the Sunday Mirror: “It was illegal to be gay in the army. The risk of being caught was being arrested, court-martialed, sacked, and sometimes imprisoned.
“I’ve wanted to be in the armed forces since I was 14 and was dying to stay in it so I couldn’t tell them. But it was really hard because it consumed my life with fear.’
Around 500 people have already given testimonies ahead of the November 15 deadline for the independent review, which has been cross-party approved in the Armed Forces Bill 2021 and is being chaired by Lord Etherton.
Kelly, who lived in fear of being exposed after joining the British Army aged 18, also told the publication: “This scrutiny needs to be as strong as possible so that it can compel the government to do something.
“For some people, just acknowledging that they are affected may be enough. But others will need support.”
The Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armored Corps Training Regiment is also urging the PM to apologize on behalf of the state but will settle for “a notable national figure”.
Army: Kelly said she lived in fear of being exposed after joining the British Army aged 18 (pictured on Trooping the Color)