Kelly Holmes says being a gay soldier during military ban led to ’30 years of trauma’

Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes has said that being a gay soldier during the pre-2000 military ban on LGBTQ+ personnel in the UK caused her “30 years of trauma”.

Holmes has previously said she had been terrified by the idea of being open about her sexuality while serving in the army between 1988 and 1997.

Speaking to ITV News to mark the 25th anniversary of the ban being lifted, she said: “When I was 23 I had a raid. I hadn’t long got promoted to a corporal and I was fearful of what that might mean if they found out about me. 

“That led me to 30-odd years of trauma and fear. I then got to know other people and veterans [who] had been through situations where it was very

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