King Charles has laid flowers at the UK's first national memorial honouring LGBT armed forces veterans, marking his first official engagement in support of the LGBT community. The ceremony took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Monday, attended by dozens of serving and former military personnel.
The memorial, titled An Opened Letter, commemorates those whose careers were cut short by the military's former 'gay ban', in place from 1967 until 2000. Thousands were investigated, discharged, or forced to leave due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, facing lifelong consequences including loss of pensions and social ostracism.
Brig Clare Phillips, a gay woman who served for 30 years, addressed the 300 guests: 'For hundreds of LGBT veterans, their experiences have been catastrophic – their lives and careers shattered. Today's unveiling is about remembering that we stand on the shoulders of giants.' Charles laid flowers alongside Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton.
The sculpture, a crumpled bronze letter composed of words from affected personnel, was funded by a £350,000 grant from the Ministry of Defence's Office for Veterans' Affairs. Peter Gibson, CEO of the charity Fighting With Pride, called it a 'deeply emotional moment', adding: 'Today is a klaxon call that signals shame can be cast aside.'
Veterans shared their stories: Carol Morgan, discharged in the late 1970s, said she hid her sexuality for 36 years and that the memorial 'means everything to us'. Carl Austin-Behan, dismissed from the RAF in 1997 after being outed, said he 'lost everything' and was made homeless. Claire Ashton, forced out of the Royal Artillery in 1972, said she still lives with 'psychological scars'.
