King Charles To Unveil First LGBT+ Military Memorial Honouring Veterans Affected by Gay Ban
King Charles III is set to unveil the UK’s first national memorial dedicated to LGBT+ members of the armed forces who suffered under the military’s former ban on gay and transgender personnel.
The memorial, called An Opened Letter, will be revealed today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire during the King’s first official engagement in support of the LGBT+ community. The bronze sculpture, shaped like a crumpled letter, is inscribed with words taken from personal letters once used as evidence to dismiss or prosecute service members under the ban.
“It’s a deeply emotional moment,” said Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting With Pride, the charity that led the project. “Expressing in physical form that what happened to them should never have taken place – and equally, but crucially – must never be allowed to happen again.”
From 1967 until 2000, it was illegal to be gay in the British military. Thousands of service members were interrogated, dismissed, or forced out because of their sexuality or gender identity. Many lost their jobs, pensions, and reputations, and some endured harassment, blackmail, and even sexual assault.
The King, who is head of the armed forces, will lay flowers at the site and meet veterans who endured discrimination under the ban. He will also hear speeches from serving LGBT+ personnel and Ed Hall, chairman of Fighting With Pride, which campaigned for justice and recognition for those affected.
The memorial was designed by Norfolk-based artist collective Abraxas Academy and funded by a £350,000 grant from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. Design lead Nina Bilbey said it was “humbling” to work on such a meaningful project: “They’ve waited so long for some kind of recognition, we didn’t want to let them down.”
The unveiling follows an independent government review led by the late Lord Etherton, which exposed “shocking” evidence of homophobia and abuse in the forces. The 2023 report prompted an apology from then-prime minister Rishi Sunak and a compensation scheme offering up to £70,000 to those affected. Veterans can also apply to have lost ranks reinstated and discharge records corrected.
Louise Sandher-Jones, minister for veterans and people, called the event a “moment of healing,” while Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the monument “stands as a lasting tribute to the bravery and service of these veterans.” The Ministry of Defence said it “deeply regrets” the way LGBT+ personnel were treated, adding that what they endured “was not reflective of today’s values or the inclusive culture of our armed forces.”
For many of those who once hid in fear, the new memorial offers a chance to be seen — and to finally take pride in their service.
