Court outlaws ban on homosexuals in armed forces

A ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on 27 September 1999 marked a five-year legal battle for four service personnel discharged under the ban of homosexuals in the British armed forces. They were backed by Stonewall, the lesbian and gay rights organisation. A panel of seven judges sitting in Strasbourg ruled unanimously that action against the four was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by violating their right to privacy.