The statue can be found at National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BUMBLEE-DEE/CANVA
King Charles III will unveil a memorial dedicated to LGBTQIA+ military personnel in the UK, a project spearheaded by the group Fighting With Pride.
Before 2000, it was illegal in the UK to be LGBTQIA+ and serve in the military. Many were subject to intrusive interrogations, raids, dismissal and imprisonment. This new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is a reminder of the bravery and courage of all LGBTQIA+ people who have served in the military.
The memorial, designed by Norfolk-based artist collective Abraxas Academy, is designed to look like a crumpled piece of paper, containing words from personal letters which were used as evidence to incriminate LGBTQIA+ people before the ban was lifted.
Fighting With Pride wrote about the King’s appearance on Instagram: “This marks the first time a senior member of the Royal Family has supported an LGBTQ+ event – a truly momentous occasion that ensures today will be even more historic than we ever imagined.”
This new memorial is just one of the 49 recommendations made by The Etherton Review, a report commissioned by the government to investigate the treatment of LGBTQIA+ veterans who served under 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.”
This statue follows the announcement last year that LGBTQIA+ veterans impacted by the military ban could receive up to £70,000 in compensation.
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.”
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