Gay Aussie Soldier Was Spied On, Humiliated, Forced Out Of Army
Image: Yvonne Sillett
鈥淲e know that you鈥檙e a homosexual, we鈥檝e been following you.鈥�
Trigger Warning: This story has details of suicidal ideation and might be distressing to some readers.听For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14.听For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .
This is what Yvonne Sillett,聽 a former Australian soldier and cipher operator, was told during a 1988 interrogation into her sexuality in relation to her security clearance.听
According to her statement on Monday to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Sillett was 鈥渉umiliated鈥� and 鈥渄egraded鈥� during the three-hour interrogation.听
Royal Commission Hearing Veterans
The royal commission is gathering evidence from ADF members who have had suicidal ideation or from surviving family members of those who have died.听聽
Describing her interrogation, Sillett said that 鈥渁fter several hours of this questioning they said they would be taking the matter further and that, based on my sexuality, I could no longer be in Signal Corps as I鈥檇 be open to blackmail, and that they were downgrading my security clearance which was needed to do that job. They told me I鈥檇 never instruct women again.鈥�
According to The Guardian, during her interrogation, she was asked to give up the names of other homosexual military personnel but she refused to do so.
鈥�I loved what I did, and had been a bit of a trailblazer for women in the army. It was all I had known, and the rug was yanked from under my feet. The trauma I experienced was up there with losing my mother, and there were suicidal thoughts.鈥�
No Apology
With the help of a partner at the time, Sillett was able to 鈥減ull through. 鈥�
According to the Canberra Times, the royal commission has issued over 150 notices to 鈥淒efence Department, DVA, and other bodies鈥澛� which has resulted in the collection of more than 320,000 pages of material to review.听
The commission has also received more than 1100 submissions related to the matter.听
According to news.com.au she has yet to receive an apology.听Sillett鈥檚 experiences have been included in a book by Noah Riseman, Shirleene Robinson, and Graham Willet called Serving in Silence.听
If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.
For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14
For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .
