From Silence To Advocacy

Emma Riley joins Joanne Lockwood to recount her experience of serving in the Royal Navy at a time when being gay in the military was illegal, and how that forced silence shaped her sense of belonging and safety.

Emma describes the bullying, the pressure of hiding her identity, and the invasive investigation that followed after she confided in a colleague. She explains the humiliation of being searched and interrogated, the forced process of coming out to her family, and the impact of being discharged on her confidence, trust, and long-term wellbeing.

The conversation follows Emma’s path from rebuilding her working life after leaving the Navy to taking action. She shares how she pursued legal challenge, ultimately contributing to the European Court of Human Rights ruling that led to the ban on homosexual people serving in the UK military being lifted in 2000.

They also discuss why visibility matters, how Pride functions as both celebration and protest, and Emma’s ongoing advocacy through speaking, supporting LGBT veterans, and volunteering in schools to help prevent bullying and expand understanding.