Just a few months after the signing of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” repeal in the U.S., a lesbian captain in the Royal Military Police has had her warrant papers revoked. Karen Tait was sent home from Afghanistan early and she says it was because Lt. Col. Deborah Poneskis, her commanding officer, was offended by her sexuality.
“I cannot recall having any normal conversation with her, I can only recall tellings off. In my view, she is prejudiced against me because I am gay,” Tait said at a hearing. “I do not believe that she has any genuine belief in the correctness of any of the allegations against me. I in no way permitted my relationship with Caroline Graham to affect my professional judgment in or out of an operational environment.”
The story goes that Tait was observed rubbing sun lotion into the hands of Sgt. Caroline Graham, but Tait says that's absurd. She says she and Graham were nothing but professional when they were stationed in Camp Bastion together. Tait is suing the Ministry of Defence for sexuality discrimination.
“I cannot recall having any normal conversation with her, I can only recall tellings off. In my view, she is prejudiced against me because I am gay,” Tait said at a hearing. “I do not believe that she has any genuine belief in the correctness of any of the allegations against me. I in no way permitted my relationship with Caroline Graham to affect my professional judgment in or out of an operational environment.”
The story goes that Tait was observed rubbing sun lotion into the hands of Sgt. Caroline Graham, but Tait says that's absurd. She says she and Graham were nothing but professional when they were stationed in Camp Bastion together. Tait is suing the Ministry of Defence for sexuality discrimination.