 "King Charles III is the commander-in-chief of the British armed forces")
King Charles III marked a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ inclusion on Monday, attending his first official engagement in support of the community to unveil a national memorial dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender service members.
The sovereign, as Commander-in-Chief of the British armed forces, unveiled the government-funded sculpture, titled “Open Letter,” at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The monument is designed to honour those currently serving and to commemorate veterans who endured the decades-long ban on openly gay personnel, which was finally lifted in the year 2000.
The striking bronze sculpture is cast in the shape of a crumpled, free-standing letter. Its unique design incorporates words from personal messages once used as evidence to incriminate and dismiss service members under the archaic regulations.
Speaking to the media at the unveiling, Brigadier Claire Phillips, a lesbian officer who joined the army before the ban was lifted, the memorial’s power for reconciliation.
“This design uses the words of our veterans and service personnel to describe how it felt to be subject to the ban… to begin that process of reconciliation,” she told Sky News. “I’m just deeply, deeply honoured to be here today.”
The dedication follows the findings of a recent independent government investigation, which revealed a history of systemic abuse, including sexual assault and mandatory dismissal, against LGBT service members. In response, the government has offered financial redress of up to £70,000 (approximately $93,332) to those impacted by the ban.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe ceremony saw King Charles, wearing a dark suit adorned with military medals, lay flowers at the site.
Alastair Smith, a gay sergeant who enlisted in the army in 1998, told Sky News that although it took time for the army’s attitudes to evolve, he personally did not experience any discrimination there, unlike in civilian life.
“There are people from the LGBT community who have that gusto, that determination and that drive to perform for their country despite whatever insurmountable odds they may face elsewhere,” he said.