A Falklands War landing craft has been coated in a rainbow vinyl wrap to celebrate Pride, sparking outrage among veterans.
Portsmouth Historic Quarter, which owns Foxtrot 8, commissioned the decoration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ban on homosexuality within the Armed Forces being lifted.
The historic landing craft landed Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment soldiers on the South Atlantic archipelago.
Its new makeover has been criticised as disrespectful by veterans and some MPs.
A Falklands War landing craft has been coated in a rainbow vinyl wrap to celebrate Pride, sparking outrage among veterans
|Portsmouth Historic Quarter/PA
A retired senior Royal Navy officer said: “To paint a landing craft that was used in the Falklands War in pride colours is entirely inappropriate.
“What next? Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in rainbow colours?”
Retired Colour Sergeant Dean Ferguson, who served in the Falklands as a private in the Parachute Regiment, added: “Our Falklands dead will be turning in their graves.”
The landing craft is the first war vessel in British history to be wrapped in the Pride colours.
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Portsmouth Historic Quarter commissioned the decoration of Foxtrot 8 to mark the 25th anniversary of the ban on homosexuality within the Armed Forces being lifted
|Portsmouth Historic Quarter/PA
Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who was mentioned in despatches for his actions in the war, said the decoration was “quite divisive”.
He noted that when the battle was fought 25 years ago, LGBT soldiers were allowed in the Armed Forces.
Parry added: “In fact, the first gay officer in the Navy was in my ship. He was allowed to come out quite openly.
“This is something that has been fought and won. The drum doesn’t need banging any more. It’s quite divisive, I think.”
Navy task force ships off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic on the way to the Falkland Islands
|PA
Lee Anderson, a Reform UK MP, opposed having Pride flags above government buildings, schools or naval ships.
He said: “Let’s stop making everything about what you like to do in the bedroom and get back to work.”
The temporary wrap, which will be removed in September, was commissioned by the charity Fighting With Pride to celebrate “inclusivity” ahead of events marking UK Pride in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on June 7.
LGBT people were banned from the Armed Forces until 2000 and faced a dishonourable discharge if discovered.
A government spokesperson told GB News: “It’s widely recognised that the first openly gay officer in the Navy fought in this war, which was won by brave service people of all sexualities – because it made no difference in the heat of the battle.
“This country will always owe a great debt of gratitude to those who secured the Falkland Islands and fought to defend Britain’s interests with pride.”