King Charles III dedicates Britain’s first national memorial to LGBTQ+ troops

The Associated Press ^ | October 27, 2025 | BY JILL LAWLESS

[Oldeconomybuyer]

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III on Monday dedicated Britain’s first national memorial to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, 25 years after the U.K. ended a ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

The king, who is the ceremonial head of the armed forces, laid flowers at the monument in the National Memorial Arboretum in central England at a service attended by scores of serving troops and veterans. The sculpture takes the form of a crumpled bronze letter bearing words from personnel who were affected by the ban.

Between 1967 and 2000, soldiers, sailors and air force personnel who were — or were thought to be — gay or transgender were labeled unfit to serve and dismissed or discharged from the forces. Some were stripped of medals or lost their pension rights, and many struggled with the stigma for decades.

The government lifted the ban after a 1999 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights.

In 2023 then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak formally apologized for what he called “an appalling failure of the British state.” A compensation program was established, with veterans who were dismissed from the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity receiving up to 70,000 pounds ($93,000) each.

LGBTQ+ military charity Fighting with Pride said the new monument represents a “powerful step forward in recognizing and honoring the service and sacrifices” of the gay and transgender troops.

[Red Badger]

[mewzilla]

He got heckled today.

Good.

[dadgum]

(Puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke.....)

Yuck.

[far sider]

The Muslims love it. It gives them more ammunition.

[mewzilla]

Note to King Cuck, er...King Chuck: You never should have conspired with your national security menace of a brother to oust Christopher Geidt.

[AppyPappy]

Rum, Buggery and the Lash

[AbolishCSEU]

[Democrat = party of treason]

Godless moron.

[Ge0ffrey]

The woke cancer spreads.

[SaveFerris]

[Rum, Buggery and the Lash]

Apparently!

[RWGinger]

Why would Muslims love it? They kill guys

[mass55th]

London (Londinium under the Romans) fell a long time ago. It’s too bad Boudica, Queen of the Iceni Tribe didn’t completely destroy it when she had the chance. Would have save the world a whole lot of horse manure in the future.

[bigbob]

That’s gay.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Never have so few forced so many to celebrate such depravity.

[mass55th]

"Godless moron."

And all because King Henry VIII couldn't get Rome to give him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. That was the beginning of the end for England.

[Midwesterner53]

I thought maybe used condoms were appropriate but they may not use them much now.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

The sculpture takes the form of a crumpled bronze letter bearing words from personnel who were affected by the ban.

Britian used to have monuments to people who were killed in war.

[HombreSecreto]

LOL

[PGalt]

Sir Winston Churchill is spinning in his grave.