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| UK's MI6 chief apologises to LGBT+ spies whose dreams 'shattered' over view gay people more easily blackmailed | UK's MI6 chief apologises to LGBT+ spies whose dreams 'shattered' over view gay people more easily blackmailed |
| (25 days later) | |
| The head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Agency, MI6, has apologised for decades of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) spies. | The head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Agency, MI6, has apologised for decades of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) spies. |
| The UK decriminalised same-sex relationships in 1967, but until 1991 its intelligence agencies had a "security bar" against LGBT+ spies due to the idea that they would be more easily blackmailed than their straight counterparts. | The UK decriminalised same-sex relationships in 1967, but until 1991 its intelligence agencies had a "security bar" against LGBT+ spies due to the idea that they would be more easily blackmailed than their straight counterparts. |
| This view was "misguided," MI6 chief Richard Moore – or "C" – admitted in a video released on Friday, as he apologised to secret agents who "had their careers and lives blighted" because of their sexuality or gender. | This view was "misguided," MI6 chief Richard Moore – or "C" – admitted in a video released on Friday, as he apologised to secret agents who "had their careers and lives blighted" because of their sexuality or gender. |
| "This was wrong, unjust and discriminatory," Moore said, as he also admitted that even after 1991, openly LGBT+ people were still being discriminated against, causing aspiring spies to have their dreams "shattered." | "This was wrong, unjust and discriminatory," Moore said, as he also admitted that even after 1991, openly LGBT+ people were still being discriminated against, causing aspiring spies to have their dreams "shattered." |
| "Until 1991, being openly LGBT+ in MI6 would cause you to lose your job or prevent you from being allowed to join in the first place," he added. | "Until 1991, being openly LGBT+ in MI6 would cause you to lose your job or prevent you from being allowed to join in the first place," he added. |
| During the vetting process, MI6 and Britain's other intelligence agencies, MI5 and GCHQ, encourage applicants to be open about their sexuality. | During the vetting process, MI6 and Britain's other intelligence agencies, MI5 and GCHQ, encourage applicants to be open about their sexuality. |
| All three have launched diversity drives in recent years and maintain that they no longer discriminate against LGBT+ people. | All three have launched diversity drives in recent years and maintain that they no longer discriminate against LGBT+ people. |
| Moore's apology follows the decision by Britain's Ministry of Defence this week to return medals to former servicemen and women, who were stripped of the honours because they were LGBT+. | Moore's apology follows the decision by Britain's Ministry of Defence this week to return medals to former servicemen and women, who were stripped of the honours because they were LGBT+. |
| The move affects up to 2,000 ex-soldiers who were kicked out of the armed forces before 2000 when gay people were still banned from serving. | The move affects up to 2,000 ex-soldiers who were kicked out of the armed forces before 2000 when gay people were still banned from serving. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |