King Charles is scheduled to visit the inaugural memorial honoring LGBT armed forces members today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The unveiling of a bronze sculpture named “An Opened Letter” will be attended by the King. This sculpture signifies the impact of the historical ‘gay ban’ in the UK military, which criminalized homosexuality within the armed forces until as late as 2000. Approximately 20,000 armed forces personnel faced incarceration, dismissal, or involuntary outing before the ban was lifted, leading to severe bullying and long-term mental health issues for many.
The sculpture, designed in the form of an opened letter, symbolizes the personal letters that were used to incriminate and discredit serving personnel, often resulting in prosecution and imprisonment. Leading the initiative to establish this permanent memorial for the LGBT community was Fighting with Pride, the LGBT Armed Forces charity.
Peter Gibson, the CEO of the charity, expressed, “The new memorial unveiled today aims to address past injustices suffered by numerous former members of the armed forces we support at Fighting With Pride. It is a profoundly emotional moment, physically representing that the injustices inflicted upon them should never have occurred and must never happen again.”
Former Army Royal Artillery member Claire Aston shared her sentiments, stating, “The creation of this memorial is a moment I never thought possible, filled with significance and, at last, pride. I have carried the psychological scars of my expulsion – termed ‘medically discharged’ in my records – since 1972 when I was just 21 years old. My aspirations and career were shattered in an instant. I was penalized for being true to myself.”
Norfolk-based Abraxas Academy, an artist collective, emerged victorious in a design competition to construct the memorial, surpassing 38 other contenders. Apart from honoring those who served and their families, the memorial is intended to be a perpetual site for remembrance and contemplation for present and future LGBT+ military personnel.
In a scathing evaluation of the historical injustice, Lord Etherington labeled it as a “blemish on the esteemed history of the Armed Forces.” Former PM Rishi Sunak tendered an official apology to those impacted, with a compensation fund established for individuals who endured hardships or lost their careers.
Reflecting on his personal experience, Carl Austin-Behan, who joined the RAF in 1991 at 19 years old and was discharged six years later due to his sexual orientation, remarked, “The significance of the LGBT+ memorial is overwhelming. ‘An Opened Letter’ evokes memories of the clandestine communications I engaged in during a time of secrecy, where words were carefully chosen, and identities concealed. I aspire to stand tall and proud once more, recalling my service; the comrade I rescued after an accident, the promotion denied to me due to my sexuality.”
Austin-Behan expressed hope that the UK’s first LGBT+ armed forces memorial will spark crucial dialogues with the public, shedding light on the perils of discrimination.
