This summer, Portsmouth Historic Quarter's Falklands era Landing Craft Foxtrot 8 will be transformed with a Pride-inspired wrap to mark 25 years since the ban on gay people serving openly in the UK Armed Forces was lifted.
In partnership with Fighting With Pride, this project recognises the injustices LGBTQ+ service members once faced. Many Falklands veterans were forced to hide who they were, live in fear, face investigation, discharge, or even criminalisation - not because of how they served, but because of who they were. This project commemorates the resilience and progress of those who served in silence - Every Veteran’s Story Matters.
Why now? 2025 is a landmark year:
25 years since the ban was lifted (Jan 2000)
Portsmouth is the host city for UK Pride 2025 (7th June)
F8, a Falklands-era landing craft and symbol of service and transformation, will become a powerful canvas—telling the story of inclusion, past and present, within our armed forces.
You can see F8 in the water this summer at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and across the Solent, join the Portsmouth Historic Quarter team at Portsmouth Pride 2025, and book a trip aboard F8 or one of their other historic Naval vessels at the monthly Pontoon Open Weekends. Harbour tours & private charters also available.
Zone
South East