■ Gay men and women serving in the Royal Navy parade with pride in full dress uniform down Oxford Street

LONDON, July 1, 2006  –  Petty Officer Karen Surtees admitted today that she had been in a mild form of panic over the past day.

And it was not the fact that the “veteran” of 14 years service in the Royal Navy would be one of a couple of dozen gay men and women serving in the navy marching in full uniform through the streets of London in EuroPride.

Karen is based in Gibraltar, and yesterday fell victim to flight delays.

“There was a time when I thought I would not get here in time,” she admitted.  “But thankfully I made it,” she said an hour before the parade moved off from Baker Street.

She, along with Leading Medical Assistant Jason Hegarty, were speaking to reporters about the significance of the Royal Navy’s official participation in EuroPride, just six years after the British military removed the ban on gay men and women in the armed services.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Karen. “I’m so excited – we can express who we are, what we are and wear our uniforms in pride today.”

Both agreed that January 12, 2000 – the date when the ban was lifted, was a memorable day for all three Services – and for them in particular.

“We do not have to be scared any more,” said Jason who admitted that life as a gay man in the Royal Navy was indeed stressful prior to 2000.

Both agreed that their personal experiences after officially “coming out” more than six years ago have not had a “dark side”.

“I have found total acceptance,” said Karen, who added it was great to be able to take her girlfriend to mess parties.

With both top brass at the Royal Air For and Army vetoing participation of their personnel in the EuroPride parade in uniform for “political” reasons, the Royal Navy publicists had a field day.

Commander Graham Beard, of the Royal Navy’s Equality Office, proudly told of how Britain’s “Senior Service” was one of Stonewall’s 204 “Diversity Champions” employers.

He then said that “history was being made” today.

“As far as we know, today is the first time that a military service has marched, in full dress uniform, at a gay Pride anywhere in the world,” he said.

But, Commander.  How about the Royal Air Force at Manchester Pride in 2004 and the Army, again at Manchester, in 2005?

Like all good naval officers, he was prepared for this salvo!

“Ah, on those occasions, their participation was tied into recruiting – and they did not march in full dress uniform,” he pointed out.

■  Flashback to August 2004 and the Royal Air Force at Manchester Pride Parade.

There is nothing like a little inter-Service rivalry.  Commander Beard was correct!

While the Royal Navy received a warm welcome from the hundreds of thousands lining the street of London – estimates put the number at 500,000, it was London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s “day”.

Surrounded by television crews from across the world before the start of the parade, he had a word for everyone as he promoted his city, as any good Mayor should, and its vibrant diversity.

“What this shows as we march through the city of London – one of the greatest cities on earth – is a city can be a wonderful place to live in with people of every race, religion and sexuality,”

With the television crews satisfied, the parade moved off down Baker Street and turned left into a Oxford Street, with not a red bus or other vehicle in sight as far as the eye could see.

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