An army veteran of almost four decades has been nominated for a special award to recognise his work supporting the military’s LGBT population.
Dougie Morgan, originally from Rosyth but now living in Alloa, spent a total of 38 years in the Army - including working as part of the 51st Brigade based in Stirling.
Dougie, who took part in active service on the frontline in Northern Ireland during his army career, decided to come out 15 years ago while still a part of the military and has since dedicated his time to supporting those in a similar position to himself.
That work has included becoming co-chair of the Army’s LGBT forum and starting up the Fighting With Pride charity, which aims to support the health and wellbeing of LGBT veterans and servicepeople.
It includes supporting those most impacted by the ban on LGBT servicepeople in the Armed Forces which remained in place until 2000.
His dedicated work setting up the charity has seen him nominated for the ‘inspiration of the year’ gong at the Scottish Veterans Awards, while the entirety of his work while serving and since his retirement four years ago has secured a nomination for the lifetime achievement prize.
Dougie, 61, told the Observer: “I completed 38 years in the Army and over the last 15 years since I decided to put my head above the parapet and be myself, I’ve been helping soldiers, sailors and airmen be themselves and help make changes in the military.
“The LGBT forum was used to help brigadiers and commanders and guide them to make sure there was a safe workplace for the LGBT community.
“I recognise that not everyone is going to get it right, so I used to encourage service personnel to challenge behaviours and people’s words and if they saw people like me doing that, they realised there was a chain of command and they wouldn’t get into trouble.
“One of the examples I remember was being asked if I wanted a ‘gay coffee’ which when I asked was a coffee with hundreds and thousands on it - it’s just about wee things like that and better education of people.
“We also introduced them to ‘Purple Friday’, which is the last Friday in February where we raise rainbow flags in all military establishments for LGBT youth.”
Dougie’s work now includes supporting veterans left without support by the Armed Forces’ ban on homosexuality in the Forces pre-2000 - with a UK Government review into the treatment of those service personnel being run by Lord Etherton.
He believes those affected have been left without a voice until now - and can relate to some of his own experiences before meeting husband Graeme, whom he has been with for 13 years.
Dougie added: “Some of the stories we’ve heard speaking to veterans for the review have been harrowing - people being subjected to electrocution therapy, illegal medicals, medals being ripped off their chests and being thrown out of the Navy and Army for being homosexual.
“These veterans have had no support for 40 years and our charity has appeared and it has opened Pandora’s Box, so it’s about supporting them emotionally and clinically, getting them appointments with psychologists.
“Some of these veterans will never mend because of their experiences so it’s just about getting their support and we go on battlefield tours and trips away on weekends.
“I’ve had to live a double life because I’ve known that I was gay since I was 14 but I was only able to serve because I didn’t let anyone know who I was and I suffered a wee bit with that so I’m trying to pay back
the support that wasn’t there for me.
“I’ve been with Graeme for 13 years and he has helped me get through a lot of dark times and I’ve got some coping techniques.
“It’s all about being a lending ear and making sure that veterans in Forth Valley open up and use the facilities that are there for them.”
The Scottish Veterans Awards will be held in Edinburgh on April 19.
