Some pretty weird solutions in this puzzle. I admit I can't parse 17 despite your hints, and as for 19a, I'm fairly sure I have the right crossers but can't find any word that fits - maybe I'm being dense?
Brendan - I also thought 2d required a homophobe indicator in the brackets, but a quick Google of the NATO alphabet suggests it doesn't, so it seems I've been spelling it wrong all these years.
COD 15a.