This Queer Angel

This Queer Angel
by Elaine Chambers
2019
unbound digital
5.0 / 5.0

The courage and bravery of Elaine Chambers blew me away! Her honesty and openness about her past experiences as a lesbian in the British Armed Forces and her desire to use these experiences, good and bad, to help others is truly admirable and inspiring.
Elaine joined the British Armed Forces- Army- in 1982, at the age of 21, as a student nurse and became a junior sister, in the rank of Lieutenant. In 1987, rumors of her sexuality began spreading. She was allowed to keep her position throughout the investigation. When Military police found out, she was forced to resign. Chambers suddenly became someone whose services were not needed because of her sexuality. Not her job performance, or ability. Some of the training courses she went through were months, and years long. It was never her veracity. It was never her ability....her rank kept rising. It was simply she was a lesbian, and that was enough. Because they could, they did. She lost more than her rank and position. She lost her pension, health and dental care, and everything she worked for and dreamed of.

This is an amazing story and I am glad she chose to share it, These are the stories we need to share, of overcoming the assumptions of patriarchy with intelligence and positive action. Elaine went on to form many support groups, and has been a source of enlightenment and support to many other whose services were no longer needed because they were openly gay.
Well-written, straight-forward with an honest and positive message, I loved this memoir. This story of humanity, survival, redemption, LGBT rights should be read and shared.
Thanks so much for Elaine Chambers and unbound digital for honoring my request for this e-book ARC, for review.
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