King Charles III has honoured LGBTQ military personnel in the UK by dedicating the country’s first memorial to their service and sacrifice, acknowledging past discrimination and celebrating the progress of inclusion
King Charles III laid a wreath on Monday at the UK’s first memorial recognising the service of LGBTQ personnel in the armed forces. The ceremony, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in central Staffordshire, brought together serving military members and veterans.
The memorial, titled “An Opened Letter”, features a bronze sculpture in the shape of a twisted letter composed of words drawn from testimonies of personnel affected by the former ban on LGBTQ service in the UK’s armed forces. The ban, in place until 2000, meant gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender personnel were barred from serving openly.
Brigadier Clare Phillips, speaking at the dedication, said: “For hundreds of LGBT veterans, their experiences have been catastrophic — their lives and careers shattered.” She added: “Today’s unveiling of this incredible memorial is about remembering that we stand on the shoulders of giants — those people who fought discrimination and persecution so we can now serve openly and proudly.”
A government-commissioned report in 2023, the Etherton Review, found that many LGBTQ veterans had been harassed, dismissed from service, stripped of pensions and left in poverty. Formerly mistreated personnel are now eligible to apply for compensation of up to £70,000.