The four years Jean spent in the Army had devastating personal and professional repercussions and resulted in a legacy of trauma and shame. Throughout it all, her twin sister Jo has been by her side. Thanks to their special bond, and support from military charities including Help for Heroes, Jean, now 67, is beginning to find a sense of peace.
Jean joined the Army at the age of 19, three weeks after her twin, Jo, who is also gay. Their parents were in the military, so Jean had always aspired to follow in the family footsteps and was proud at the thought of serving her country. Jean followed in her parents footsteps in joining the military (Image: Help for Heroes) Then one day in 1981 her world imploded when officers from the Army’s Special Investigations Branch accused her of being gay.
“They went into my room, and I had to stand there while they trashed it looking for evidence. They took my photographs and letters. I was totally humiliated,” she said.
“They asked intimate questions about my sexuality. After six hours, I just collapsed and signed their form. And that statement is what got me dismissed from the Army - for loving someone of the same sex.
” “The impact of being discharged for being gay was massive. I had so much shame and self-hatred, and I felt worthless. I felt totally lost.
It destroyed our lives. 'Now I can look forward, and that’s what I want to do' - Jean (Image: Help for Heroes) “I joined up very young, I was still in my teens and I didn’.