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 attend the unveiling of a bronze sculpture named “An Opened Letter,” symbolizing the impact of the historical ‘gay ban’ within the UK military, which prohibited homosexuality in the armed forces until as recent as 2000. It is estimated that around 20,000 armed forces personnel faced imprisonment, dismissal, or involuntary outing prior to the reversal of the ban.
Numerous individuals endured severe bullying and long-term mental health challenges as a consequence of this policy. The sculpture, designed in the shape of an opened letter, signifies the personal letters that were utilized to discredit and incriminate serving military members, sometimes resulting in prosecution and incarceration.
The initiative to establish a lasting memorial for the LGBT community was spearheaded by Fighting with Pride, an LGBT Armed Forces charity. Peter Gibson, the CEO of the charity, stated, “Today’s new memorial is a step towards rectifying the injustices suffered by many former military personnel we support at Fighting With Pride. It is a profoundly moving moment, physically embodying the fact that what they experienced should never have occurred and, equally importantly, must never happen again.”
Claire Aston, a former member of the Army’s Royal Artillery, expressed her emotions, saying, “This is a moment of great significance that I never thought I would witness, filled with meaning and finally, with pride. I am now in my 70s and have carried the psychological scars of being discharged – ‘medically discharged’ as it was noted in my records. That was in 1972 when I was just 21 years old – my aspirations and life plans shattered in an instant. I was penalized for being true to myself.”
The memorial, created by Norfolk-based artist collective Abraxas Academy, won a design competition over 38 other entrants. Apart from honoring past and present service members and their families, the memorial is intended to serve as a perpetual venue for remembrance and contemplation for current and future LGBT+ military personnel.
In a scathing critique of the historical events, Lord Etherington characterized the ban as a “blemish on the distinguished history of the Armed Forces.” Former PM Rishi Sunak issued an official apology to those affected, and a compensation fund has been established for individuals who suffered as a result.
Carl Austin-Behan, who joined the RAF at 19 in 1991 and was discharged six years later due to his sexual orientation, shared his thoughts, stating, “The significance of the LGBT+ memorial overwhelms me. ‘An Opened Letter’ brings back memories of the letters I wrote and received during a time of secrecy, with concealed words and altered identities. I hope that the UK’s first LGBT+ armed forces memorial will stimulate important dialogues with the public – shedding light on the perils of discrimination.”
