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1885
Criminal law Amendment Act made sexual acts between men
illegal in the UK.
1895
Oscar Wilde sentenced to 2 years hard labour.
1921
Attempt made to include sexual acts between women within
the law for the first time. Rejected, as even to mention
the possibility could corrupt.
1928
Radcliffe Hall's 'Well of Loneliness' published and banned.
The first time lesbianism had been written about publicly.
1939-1945
World War Two. The number of courts martial for 'indecency
between males' greater than for any other offence.
Under the Nazis, homosexuals were persecuted and placed
in concentration camps. They had to wear a pink triangle
in the same way that Jews had to wear the yellow Star
of David. Some 50,000 gay men perished in the camps.
1948
The Kinsey Report 'Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male'
found that homosexuals existed in every walk of life and
not just the minority that could be easily identified.
1950's
Homosexuality now designated a disease. Aversion therapies
were used and in some cases lobotomies and chemical castration
in the form of hormone therapy.
1953
The Kinsey Report equivalent 'Sexual Behaviour in the
Human Female' published. Attempts were made with both
books to have them banned on the grounds of obscenity.
These attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.
1952
Arrests increased from 956 in 1938 to 3,757. The Home
Secretary of the time Sir David Maxwell Fyfe told the
Commons: 'Homosexuals... are exhibitionists and proselytisers
and a danger to others'. The police's consequent response
was reflected in the increased arrests.
1957
In Septeber, the Wolfenden report recommended that homosexual
behaviour between consenting male adults (21 and over)
should be decriminalised. Parliament, aware that the public
were still divided on the issue, left the decision for
another decade.
1960's
Between 1957 and 1967, when the Wolfenden Committee's
recommendations were finally made law, the issue was raised
in Parliament several times without success.
1963
'Towards a Quaker View of Sex' is published by The Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers). They are the first British
Christian Church to say that it is the quality of a relationship
that matters, not the sexuality of the partners.
1969
The Stonewall Riots, which started in a New York bar,
marked the beginning of the modern 'Gay Rights' movement.
It was the night of Judy Garland's funeral and, when the
police started their usual round of arrests, gay men fought
back for the first time. Gay Pride events across the world
are held at this time to commemorate this turning point.
The term 'Gay' began to be used more and more frequently
to describe people who identified as homosexual. It started
as an acronym which stood for Good As You
1970's
The Gay Liberation Front started, as a more militant campaigning
organisation than the Homosexual Law Reform Society (which
later became CHE- Campaign for Homosexual Equality.) They
campaigned around slogans such as 'Glad to be Gay' and
the British Gay Pride events started around this time.
'Gay News' the first national gay newspaper was launched.
Then came the first lesbian and gay help and information
telephone line in London. In 1975, Manchester launched
it's own Gay Switchboard. Both these organisations are
still operating.
1973
After years of controversy and often stormy debate, the
Board of Trustees of the American Psychiatric Association
declares that 'by itself homosexuality does not meet the
criteria for being a psychiatric disorder.'
1974
The Australia and New Zealand College of Psychaitrists
becomes one of the first such groups to eliminate homosexuality
from its official listing of mental disorders.
1976
Lynn Ramson of Oaklands California is the first openly
lesbian mother to win custody of her children in court.
1980
Scotland has a different legal system so the 1967 amendments
to English law didn't have effect. The government wouldn't
act to bring Scotland in line and so a case was brought
to the European Court and the reforms were finally enacted
1982
Northern Ireland had to wait longer. Attempts were made
to liberalise the law in 1977. Once again the government
was taken to the European Court and in 1982 the law was
finally enacted.
In July a young gay man called Terence Higgins died of
AIDS. By October 1985 the recorded number of deaths had
risen to 241. The Gay community rallied in the United
States and in the UK but the attitude of the general public
was the opposite. Papers reported the coming of the 'Gay
Plague' and a survey in 1987 found 74% disapproving of
homosexual relationships. With the newspaper reports came
an increase in 'queer bashing' and anti-gay violence and
harassment.
1984
Chris Smith becomes the first openly gay Member of Parliament.
1985
The 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals rules that
federal immigration authorities cannot prevent lesbians
and gay men from entering the country purely on the grounds
of their sexuality.
The Labour Party Annual Conference approves a resolution
calling for the end to all legal discrimination against
lesbians and gay men.
Margaret Roff becomes the country's first openly lesbian
mayor for Manchester.
1987
Opinions became polarised. After many councils' attempt
to counteract the prejudice against lesbians and gay men
the government initiates Clause 28 to the Local Government
Bill which states;
'A local authority shall not: a) intentionally promote
homosexuality or publish material with the intention of
promoting homosexuality and b) promote the teaching in
any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality
as a pretended family relationship.'
For the first time lesbians were now included within
the legislation. Despite a huge campaign to stop it the
clause was passed and became Section 28.
At this time the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester
Police spoke publicly against the gay community referring
to them as 'swirling around in a cess pit of their own
making.'
1988
'Stop The Clause' rallies in London and Manchester total
30,000 and 20,000, the largest events of this kind ever
seen.
1989
Stonewall is founded by Sir Ian McKellan, Michael Cashman
and Angela Mason to campaign for Equal Rights within the
law for lesbians and gay men.
1993
The World Health Organisation officially deletes homosexuality
from its list of disorders.
Ireland decriminalises same sex relationships for consenting
adults and set the age of consent at 17
1994
The age of consent for gay men is lowered from 21 to 18,
making it the first piece of positive legislation for
nearly thirty years.
1995
The Archbishop of Canterbury tells the press 'We reject
homophobia in any form.'
For the first time in history the United Nations considers
lesbian and gay rights abuses at the International Tribunal
on Human Rights Violations against Sexual Minorities.
Following testimonies from a number of women and who have
suffered abuse ranging from torture to forced institutionalisation,
the tribunal recommends that the UN document sexual orientation
and gender identity issues around the world and integrate
them into the organisation's human rights agenda.
1996
The European Parliament calls for an end to all discrimination
and/or equality concerning homosexuals in every country
in the European Union.
The process of equalization of the age of consent for
gay men begins. It takes 5 years for it to become law.
1999
The European Court of Human Rights announces that the
UK policy banning lesbian and gay personnel from the Armed
Forces is illegal, unjust and unfair. All investigations
and discharges are suspended. The ban is lifted as the
Directive against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality
becomes law in December 2003.
The New Millennium
2001
The age of consent for gay men is brought in line with
hetersexuals. Age now set for everyone at 16.
2003
Homophobic violence remains a real and present threat.
However, steps are being made to combat this. In October
2003 the CPS announces that, as with Race Hate Crime,
there will now be Gay Hate Crime. In other words criminal
activity that includes hatred towards a gay person or
people can now be an aggravating factor in any arrest
and/or conviction.
In Manchester the police introduce a system for monitoring
Hate Crime against gay people and include a gay section
on the GMP web site which includes information about safety.
The churches play a prominent role in the continuation
of prejudice against Gay people. They also play a prominent
role in promoting their rights to be treated as equal.
This has been evident in the activity and furore provoked
by the consecration of a gay bishop in America in October
2003. Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church had the backing
of his clergy and thousands of worshipers but his consecration
has caused outrage across the wider Anglican communion.
On November 17th Section 28 is finally repealed.
On December 1st 2003 it becomes illegal to discriminate,
harass, victimise or bully a gay person on the grounds
of their sexuality in the workplace.
2004
On November 17th the Partnership Bill is finally passed
through the Lords giving lesbians and gay men the right
to register their relationship. This puts gay relationships
on an equal footing legally with heterosexual marriage,
and gives gay partners the same rights within their relationship
as heterosexual people. In its final reading in the Commons
it passed by 426 to 49. A huge 'all parties' majority,
showing how attitudes have shifted since the days of Section
28. This new Bill comes into effect in December 2005.
Prejudice is gradually reducing. A MORI poll found that
63% were comfortable with the idea of a lesbian or gay
doctor. 73% said they wouldn't mind if their child's teacher
was lesbian or gay. 17% still, however, said that they
were against lesbian and gay people. We still need legislation
to protect lesbians and gay men's rights to access goods
and services. In June 2004 a Scottish Guest House owner
refused to allow two gay men to stay and gay people routinely
still receive a second class service in areas of the public
sector such as healthcare provision and education.
Homophobic Bullying is still a big problem for lesbian
and gay young people at school and college. In a survey
conducted by Stonewall in 2004 four in five teachers in
secondary schools say they are aware of verbal homophobic
bullying and one in four are aware of physical homophobic
bullying. Just 6% of British schools have fully inclusive
anti-bullying policies which address homophobic bullying.
2005
A decision has been made by the Anglican Communion to
separate from the Episcopal Church in America for three
years to give time for consideration of its position with
regards to its acceptance of homosexuality and the ordination
of gay priests. This is widely considered to be the first
step towards a permanent split in the Anglican Church.
A new Pope is named by the College of Cardinals. Cardinal
Ratzinger is elected pontiff. He was formally the head
of Opus Dei, the organisation charged with protecting
orthodoxy in the church. Since becoming Pope he has confirmed
the church's continuing opposition to various issues,
including homosexuality.
The Last Chapter?
More high profile figures in the media also help to change
people's perceptions. Some of our most popular figures
are gay, Benjamin Britten the composer, Julian Clary and
Graham Norton, the television personalities, Sir Ian McKellan
the actor, Sandy Toksvig the writer, Rhona Cameron the
comedienne, and Anne Eagleton MP, to name just a few.
Lesbians and gay men have made important contributions
to society. Their contributions, some widely acknowledged
and honoured, others quiet, unobtrusive and unnoticed,
have helped mould, change, care for, reflect and entertain
the society in which they live. Many, both famous and
less well known, have paid a price for who they are sexually,
instead of who they have been and what they have contributed
professionally. All lesbians and gay men want is to be
acknowledged as equal citizens of this country with the
same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen.
We work for a day when it simply won't matter what sexuality
we are.
With acknowledgment and thanks for the history to that
marvellous publication Opening Doors' Working with Older
Lesbians and Gay Men'. Published by Age Concern England
Also to the web site www.infopt.demon.co.uk/gayhist.htm
