King unveils new Memorial honoring LGBTQ+ Military Veterans

King Charles III has unveiled a new national memorial dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel, following a decades-long campaign to acknowledge the injustices faced under the former ban on homosexuality in the British armed forces.

In his first official engagement in support of the LGBTQ+ community, the King attended the unveiling ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The sculpture, titled “The Opened Letter” – also referred to as “The Open Letter” – was created by the Norfolk-based artist collective Abraxas Academy.

The bronze artwork resembles a crumpled piece of paper etched with words from personal letters once used as evidence to incriminate gay service members. It stands as a powerful tribute both to current LGBTQ+ personnel and to those who served at a time when being gay in the military was illegal.

Until the year 2000, members of the armed forces who were gay – or perceived to be – faced invasive investigations, dismissal, and in some cases imprisonment. Many veterans who attended the ceremony described the monument as a moment of “closure” after years spent campaigning to change the law and secure government reparations.

Nina Bilbey, design lead for Abraxas Academy, said the team was determined to do justice to the veterans’ experiences: “They've waited so long for some kind of recognition, we didn’t want to let them down.”Fighting With Pride, the LGBTQ+ veterans’ charity that spearheaded the project, called the memorial a crucial step in acknowledging this history. Chief Executive Peter Gibson said, “It’s a deeply emotional moment, expressing in physical form that what happened to them should never have taken place.”

As reported by the BBC, the creation of the memorial was one of 49 recommendations from the Etherton Review – an independent government-commissioned inquiry into the treatment of LGBTQ+ veterans who served under the ban. The report described a “shocking” culture of homophobia, bullying, and sexual assault.

Among those affected was Pádraigín Ní Rághillíg, a former member of the Women’s Royal Air Force, who was outed and interrogated after a colleague witnessed her kissing another woman. Her story, along with many others, was documented in the Etherton Report as part of the historical record of the ban’s devastating impact.Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the unveiling, stating that the memorial “stands as a lasting tribute to the bravery and service of these veterans.”

In addition to the monument, the UK government has introduced several measures to address the harm caused by the ban, including pardons for past convictions, the return of confiscated medals and berets, and a financial redress scheme offering payments of up to £70,000 to affected veterans.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said they “deeply regret” the treatment of those impacted by the ban and affirmed that such discrimination “was not reflective of today’s values or the inclusive culture of our armed forces.” They also commended the courage of veterans who shared their experiences, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to ensuring all personnel are valued, respected, and able to thrive in the modern military.