The UK’s first LGBT+ military memorial has been given the green light after the Government approved a £350,000 grant.
LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride was awarded the money to commemorate those in the LGBT+ community who served in the UK Armed Forces.
The memorial is expected to be situated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The memorial was one recommendation from last summer’s judge-led independent review by Lord Etherton. A total of 49 were put forward by the LGBT Veterans Independent Review and accepted by the Government.
The new memorial will commemorate all LGBT+ personnel, including those who were affected by the previous ban on LGBT+ people serving the Armed Forces.
The ban prevented gay personnel from serving in the military until after the year 2000, with transgender personnel banned from service until 2014 – as well as seeing thousands of personnel removed from service in the UK military.
Captain Professor Sir Michael Howard was Britain’s most eminent military historian of his generation, becoming Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford University.
He was awarded the Military Cross for his service in the Second World War and, as a gay man, advocated for the lifting of the ban and equal rights in the military towards the end of his career.
Capt Prof Howard died in 2019, but his niece Maddy Howe said he would have been “immensely proud to see this lost legion of veterans from our Armed Forces remembered”.
“He would have been particularly pleased to see this memorial provide a special place of remembrance for the future generations of our Armed Forces and their families,” she said.
“All of Michael’s family are hugely proud of him and will be delighted to visit the memorial when it’s ready.
“It’s a very moving prospect.”
Fighting With Pride has been instrumental in helping veterans affected by the ban secure justice.
Over the next few weeks, the charity will start a country-wide consultation to ensure the memorial provides a fitting, lasting and sustainable place to honour LGBT+ veterans, their families and those who lost their career due to the ban.
Craig Jones MBE, the chair of Fighting With Pride, said the charity was “delighted and proud to have the opportunity to create this important memorial”.
“Our work on it will start quickly,” he said.
“We’re committed to delivering a fitting memorial, but a great deal of work remains to be done to lift the veterans most affected by the ban from the poverty inflicted upon them after the loss of careers.
“Too many face crippling debt, poor housing, social isolation and live with poor health and wellbeing.
“2024 must be the year in which all 49 of Lord Etherton’s recommendations for reparation are delivered.”
Lord Etherton’s recommendations came as the result of the independent review commissioned in 2022 to better understand the experiences, impacts and implications of the policy to ensure this community is effectively supported.
The Government accepted the intent behind all 49 recommendations, including a financial award for those affected – having already completed 28.
The Prime Minister, Defence Secretary and Chiefs of Service expressed the Government and Armed Forces’ deep regret and apologised publicly.
