The “Open Letter” sculpture honours LGBT veterans once persecuted under Britain’s gay military ban, offering long-awaited recognition and closure
In a historic act of remembrance, King Charles III unveiled the United Kingdom’s first LGBT Armed Forces Memorial on October 27, 2025 — marking his first official engagement in support of the LGBT community. The emotional ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire symbolised both apology and healing for service members once punished for their sexuality.
Honouring Those Who Served in Silence
The bronze sculpture, titled “An Open Letter,” stands as a powerful tribute to LGBT military personnel who served despite discrimination and persecution. Designed by Abraxas Academy, a Norfolk-based artist collective, the memorial resembles a crumpled letter inscribed with words from personal correspondence once used to incriminate gay and lesbian service members.
King Charles, dressed in a dark suit adorned with medals, laid flowers at the monument. The event marked a poignant moment for veterans who endured the military’s ban on LGBT personnel, lifted only in 2000, decades after homosexuality was partially decriminalised in the UK.
From Persecution to Recognition
For veterans like Claire Phillips, a brigadier who joined the army in 1995 when being openly gay was still prohibited, the memorial’s symbolism runs deep. “This design uses the words of our veterans to describe how it felt to be subject to the ban,” she said. “It begins that process of reconciliation.”
Another veteran, Alastair Smith, who joined in 1998, spoke of resilience and pride: “There are people from the LGBT community who have that determination to perform for their country despite the odds.”
The ban, which lasted until 2000, saw countless service members dismissed, investigated, and even imprisoned simply for being gay or suspected of being so. Many of those affected attended the unveiling, calling it a moment of “closure” after decades of campaigning for justice.
A Campaign Years in the Making
The unveiling fulfils one of 49 recommendations from The Etherton Review, an independent government-commissioned investigation into the mistreatment of LGBT veterans. The late Lord Etherton’s report revealed “shocking” accounts of harassment, sexual assault, and dismissal faced by LGBT service members.
Among those featured in the report was Pádraigín Ní Rághillíg, a former Women’s Royal Air Force telegraphist who endured interrogation, humiliation, and sexual assault after being outed in 1984. Her story, along with dozens of others, shaped the government’s recent commitment to reparations.
Recognition, Redress, and Reconciliation
The UK government has since offered financial redress of up to £70,000 (S$121,000) for veterans affected by the ban, along with pardons, medal restorations, and a special LGBT veterans’ ribbon.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the memorial as “a lasting tribute to the bravery and service of these veterans,” while Minister for Veterans Louise Sandher-Jones described it as a “moment of healing.”
The memorial project was led by Fighting With Pride, an LGBT veterans’ charity advocating for justice and recognition. Its CEO Peter Gibson said, “It’s a deeply emotional moment — a physical form of saying what happened should never have taken place.”
A Symbol for Future Generations
For many veterans, the “Open Letter” is more than a memorial — it’s a public acknowledgment of pain, courage, and change. Nina Bilbey, design lead for Abraxas Academy, said her team felt humbled by the project’s meaning: “They’ve waited so long for recognition. We didn’t want to let them down.”
As Ní Rághillíg reflected, “Given another 20 or 30 years, none of us will be left, but the memorial will be there — and that’s really important.”
The unveiling of the UK’s first LGBT Armed Forces Memorial represents a turning point in national memory — transforming a once-silenced history of injustice into one of remembrance and respect. Beyond Britain’s borders, it stands as a universal message: that dignity, equality, and courage in service should never be compromised by identity.
Sources: AsiaOne (2025) , BBC (2025)
Keywords: King Charles, LGBT Memorial, Armed Forces Ban, Open Letter Sculpture, Etherton Review
