King Charles is scheduled to visit the inaugural memorial honoring LGBT members of the armed forces today, located at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The King will be present for the unveiling of a bronze sculpture named “An Opened Letter,” which symbolizes the impact of the ‘gay ban’ within the UK military. This ban, which prohibited homosexuality in the armed forces until as recently as 2000, resulted in the imprisonment, dismissal, or forced outing of approximately 20,000 armed forces personnel.
Many individuals faced severe bullying and long-term mental health challenges as a consequence of this discriminatory policy.
The sculpture, designed in the form of an opened letter, serves as a representation of the personal letters that were used to discredit and incriminate serving personnel, leading to prosecution and imprisonment in some instances.
Fighting with Pride, an LGBT Armed Forces charity, spearheaded the initiative to establish a lasting tribute for the community.
Peter Gibson, the charity’s CEO, expressed, “Today’s new memorial is a step towards rectifying past injustices for many former sailors, soldiers, and aviators we support at Fighting With Pride. It is a profoundly emotional moment, physically manifesting the notion that the unjust treatment they endured should never have occurred, and more importantly, must never happen again.”
Claire Aston, a former member of the Army’s Royal Artillery, shared her sentiments, stating, “This moment of inaugurating the LGBT+ memorial is one I never thought I would witness, filled with significance and finally, with pride. I am now in my 70s and have carried the psychological scars of my expulsion – labeled as ‘medically discharged’ in my records since 1972, when I was just 21 years old. My aspirations and life plans were shattered in an instant. I was punished for being true to myself.”
The Norfolk-based artist collective Abraxas Academy won a design competition to create the memorial, triumphing over 38 other applicants.
The memorial, intended as a perpetual place of remembrance and contemplation for LGBT+ military personnel, their families, and future generations of service members, is open year-round.
In a scathing assessment of the scandal, Lord Etherington characterized it as a “blemish on the esteemed history of the Armed Forces.”
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an official apology to those impacted, and a compensation fund has been established for individuals who suffered repercussions or lost their careers.
Carl Austin-Behan, who joined the RAF at 19 in 1991 and was discharged six years later due to his sexual orientation, reflected on the significance of the LGBT+ memorial. He expressed hope that the memorial would initiate crucial dialogues with the public, shedding light on the perils of discrimination.
The UK’s first LGBT+ armed forces memorial, represented by “An Opened Letter,” is anticipated to prompt important conversations and raise awareness about the dangers of discrimination within society.