Until the year 2000, LGBTQ+ people were banned from serving openly in the British Armed Forces. Those perceived to be gay, lesbian or transgender faced dismissal, humiliating interrogations and, in some cases, imprisonment. Many lost their careers, their reputations and, in some cases, their freedom.

The new monument, titled “The Open Letter”, will be unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It is dedicated both to LGBTQ+ service members currently serving and to those who suffered under the former ban. The bronze sculpture, designed by the artist collective Abraxas Academy, depicts a crumpled piece of paper – a symbol of the personal letters once used as evidence to accuse people of homosexuality.

According to veterans involved, the memorial finally represents recognition and “a sense of closure” after decades of campaigning for justice. Their experiences, documented in the government’s Etherton Review, reveal a disturbing picture of homophobia, bullying and sexual assault within the Armed Forces during the ban.

The memorial is one of 49 recommendations from that independent report, which led to a series of restorative measures, including official apologies, the reinstatement of military honours, a special LGBTQ+ veterans’ ribbon and financial compensation of up to £70,000 for those affected.

The charity Fighting With Pride, which advocates for LGBTQ+ veterans, led the initiative for the monument. Its chief executive, Peter Gibson, described it as “a deeply emotional moment”, expressing that “what happened back then must never be allowed to happen again.”

A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence told the BBC that it “deeply regrets” the treatment of LGBTQ+ service members during the ban. “What they experienced does not reflect the values or inclusive culture of today’s Armed Forces,” the ministry said.