Entitled Uncharted Waters: Generations Of LGBTQ+ Pride In The Royal Navy, the short film looks into life before and after homosexuality was banned
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY
A new documentary has illuminated the experiences of LGBTQIA personnel in the Royal Navy, both before and after the ban on homosexuality was lifted. Produced by filmmaker David Graham in collaboration with the Royal Navy’s LGBTQ+ Network, Uncharted Waters: Generations Of LGBTQ+ Pride In The Royal Navy offers audiences a poignant glimpse into the lives of LGBTQIA members of the navy and the profound impact of discriminatory policies on individuals.
Uncharted Waters comes as part of a broader initiative by the National Museum Of The Royal Navy to enrich access to its collection and engage with the complete story of the Royal Navy, including marginalised voices.
Lieutenant Danny Cairns, co-chair of the RN LGBTQ+ Network, commented on the importance of this film ahead of its release to the Royal Navy. “Our short film is a perfect way for the network to show its open arms to our returning veteran community.”
“Within the Armed Forces, veterans are a huge part of our culture and education system; unfortunately, the LGBTQIA ban not only took away a generation of sailors but took away our role models, our mentors and a support network.
Until 2000, LGBTQIA people were banned from joining the Royal Navy under the Sexual Offences Act of 1967. Last July, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised to veterans who had been affected by the military ban, calling it an “appalling failure of the British state”.
Featuring members of the Royal Navy from all generations, this new powerful film acts as a reminder of how vital it is to have these intergenerational conversations.
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