Navy vessel wrapped in rainbow for gay personnel

A Royal Navy landing craft has been wrapped in Pride colours to mark 25 years since the ban on gay people serving in the UK armed forces was lifted.

Members of the public will be able view and take trips onboard Landing Craft Foxtrot 8 (F8) which is based at Portsmouth Historic Quarter.

The vessel, which was used in the Falklands War, has become the first in British history to be wrapped in the rainbow colours

The project to put the colourful vinyl wrap on the F8 has been organised with the charity Fighting with Pride ahead of Portsmouth hosting UK Pride on June 7.

Until January 2000, LGBTQ+ people were banned from serving and faced dishonourable discharge, loss of medals, surveillance and interrogation.

Veteran Roly Woods, a former sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy who served on HMS Leeds Castle during the Falklands War, said that he had chosen to lie when challenged by his commanding officer about his relationship with another man.

He said: "My captain accepted it and I got away with it but it was an extremely difficult situation to deal with both professionally and personally and I wrestled with it for many years."

Former master at arms in the Royal Navy and volunteer at Portsmouth Historic Quarter, Gavin Moulds, served in the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) from 1994 to 2003 and was involved in investigating criminal offences within the navy, including the ban on homosexuality.

He said: "The ban, the way it was enforced, and to the level it was enforced, was never something I agreed with.

"However, I cannot help but still feel a degree of guilt for my involvement - an apology would not be enough."

In December 2024, the Ministry of Defence announced the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, which enables anyone impacted by the ban while serving in the armed forces between 1967 and 2000 to apply for recognition payments up to £50,000.

Mr Woods, who is the memorial officer for Fighting with Pride, estimates that hundreds of LGBTQ+ veterans are yet to come forward for compensation or to have their medals returned.

He said: "The unveiling of Landing Craft F8 in her Pride colours is a celebration of real progress for the LGBTQ+ community in the armed forces, and it is an extremely proud moment for both LGBTQ+ veterans and for those serving today."

Landing Craft F8 will be on display in Pride colours on the pontoons at Boathouse 4 and available for charter or walk-up rides from May 15 until the end of September.

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