London
The British navy said this week that it would allow gay and lesbian sailors to bunk with their same-sex partners on base. The new policy stems from a 1999 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Britain’s ban on gays in the military violated European law. Since then, the navy has been working with Stonewall, a gay rights group, to come up with ways to make gays feel comfortable in the military. “It’s not just empty words when we talk about diversity and opportunity,” said Commodore Paul Docherty, the officer in charge of naval life. Starting in the fall, gays in civil unions may apply for housing previously reserved for married couples. On ship, however, sexual activity is still strictly forbidden for gays and straights alike.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
China looms large over India and Pakistan's latest violenceIN THE SPOTLIGHT Beijing may not have had troops on the ground, but as South Asia's two nuclear powers bared their teeth over Kashmir, China eyed opportunity in its own backyard
-
Where the new Pope Leo XIV stands on various issuesThe Explainer The first American pontiff is expected to continue some of his predecessor's work
-
What's wrong with America's air traffic control systems?Today's Big Question The radios and radar keep going out at Newark International
