King Charles is set to visit the inaugural memorial honoring LGBT armed forces members today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The King will be present at the unveiling of a bronze sculpture named “An Opened Letter,” symbolizing the impact of the former ‘gay ban’ in the UK military, which criminalized homosexuality in the armed forces until as late as 2000. It is estimated that about 20,000 armed forces personnel faced imprisonment, dismissal, or involuntary exposure before the ban was lifted, leading to severe bullying and enduring mental health challenges.
The sculpture, designed in the form of an opened letter, signifies the personal letters used to discredit and incriminate serving individuals, sometimes resulting in prosecution and imprisonment. The project to establish this permanent memorial for the LGBT community was spearheaded by Fighting with Pride, an LGBT Armed Forces charity.
Peter Gibson, the CEO of the charity, expressed, “Today’s new memorial is a step towards addressing the injustices faced by many former military members we support at Fighting With Pride. It is a profoundly emotional moment, physically representing that what they went through should never have occurred and, equally importantly, must never happen again.”
Claire Aston, a former member of the Army’s Royal Artillery, shared her sentiments, saying, “This is a moment of great significance that I never thought I would witness—a moment filled with meaning and, finally, pride. Having lived with the psychological scars of being discharged since 1972 when I was just 21, seeing the LGBT+ memorial progress through its various stages has been cathartic. Witnessing the completion of the ‘Opened Letter’ sculpture is profoundly emotional. It means a lot to be among others who have endured similar ordeals and are reconciling with the past.”
Abraxas Academy, a collective of artists based in Norfolk, won a design competition to create the memorial, prevailing over 38 other contenders. The memorial is not only intended for past and present military personnel and their families but also as a perpetual site for remembrance and contemplation for current and future LGBT+ service members.
In a scathing review of the scandal last year, Lord Etherington condemned it as a “stain on the illustrious history of the Armed Forces.” Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an official apology to those affected, and a compensation fund has been established for individuals who suffered or lost their careers due to the discriminatory policy.
Carl Austin-Behan, who joined the RAF at 19 in 1991 and was discharged six years later for being gay, emphasized the significance of the LGBT+ memorial, reflecting on his experiences of secrecy and discrimination during his service. He expressed hope that the memorial would spark crucial conversations about the dangers of discrimination.
The new LGBT+ armed forces memorial is expected to raise awareness and prompt discussions on the issue within the public sphere, highlighting the detrimental effects of discrimination.