Overseen by Fighting With Pride, the statue was designed by Abraxas Academy
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE VIA CANVA
A group of artists have been chosen to create a touching memorial to remember the experiences of LGBTQIA veterans before the military ban was lifted. Entitled “Crumpled Letter” the bronze statue will be installed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in August.
This statue follows the announcement last year that LGBTQIA veterans impacted by the military ban could receive up to £70,000 in compensation. The installation of this new statue represents three of the 49 recommendations Lord Etherton made in the independent review of the experiences of LGBTQIA veterans who served prior to 2000.
The design and construction of the statue will be overseen by the LGBTQIA charity Fighting With Pride. Pitched by Norfolk and Suffolk artists’ collective Abraxas Academy, the letter was designed with words taken from LGBTQIA personnel impacted by the ban.
Speaking to the BBC, Abraxas Academy sculptor Nina Bilbey, said: “This is going to be a sculpture that will give armed forces, the LGBT people, somewhere to go to remember, but also know how fortunate they are now, of people’s sacrifice.”
It was illegal to serve in the armed forces if you were LGBTQIA up until 2000. Veterans who served before the ban were dishonourably discharged, stripped of medals or convicted of a crime. Veterans such as Dame Kelly Holmes have spoken about the impact this ban had on LGBTQIA personnel at the time who often lived in fear.
Speaking after the compensation for LGBTQIA veterans was announced, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The historic treatment of LGBT veterans was a moral stain on our nation. Our Government is determined to right the wrongs of the past and recognise the hurt that too many endured.”
With a £350,000 grant from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), this new statue is a reminder of the horrific treatment that LGBTQIA veterans faced.
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