A symbol of remembrance and reconciliation, the ‘Open Letter’ monument, sponsored by the government and inaugurated on Monday (27.10.2025) by King Charleshonors the courage of LGBT+ soldiers and acknowledges the suffering they suffered during decades of prohibition.
The work, a brass sculpture reminiscent of a crumpled sheet of paper, bears etched words from personal letters that have in the past been used to accuse and condemn LGBTI+ military personnel because of their sexual orientation. The ceremony took place at the National Arboretum Memorial, in Staffordshire, where King Charles, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, laid a wreath.
Powerful testimonies and deep symbolism
Brigadier Claire Phillips, who joined the army in 1995 when it was still illegal to be openly gay, told Sky News she was deeply moved by the project: “This memorial is a great way to symbolize what so many people suffered because of the ban,” she said.
According to her, the project “uses the words of our veterans and military personnel to describe what it was like to live under this ban … and to begin a process of reconciliation.”
Sergeant Alastair Smith, who joined the force in 1998, also welcomed the progress made: “Attitudes have changed over time. I didn’t feel prejudice in the military, but more so in my civilian life,” he explained.
He also emphasized that “many people from the LGBTI+ community serve their country with zeal, determination and courage, despite the obstacles they may face elsewhere.”
A government act of rehabilitation
The unveiling of the monument followed the findings of an independent inquiry commissioned by the British government which revealed decades of systematic discrimination, including sexual assault and unfair dismissal of members of the LGBTI+ community.
In response, the government established a compensation scheme that can reach up to €80,000 for victims of these practices.