1533 – The Buggery act
King Henry the VIII was the reigning monarch when the first time that parliament passed a legislation aimed at persecuting homosexual men for the act of sodomy. Convicted individuals were met with the death penalty, outlawing sodomy in the UK and by extension what would soon to be the British empire.
1861 – The Offences against a person’s act
In 1861 the death penalty was abolished for acts of sodomy, instead being replaced with a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
1885- The Criminal Law Amendment Act
In 1885 the Criminal law amendment act made any homosexual act illegal, with or without a witness present, that even acts committed in a private setting could still be prosecuted. The new law was so obscure that something a small as a letter expressing affection between two men was all that was required to bring a guilty verdict and prosecute the individuals involved.
1921 – The Criminal Law Amendment Bill
Although female homosexuality was never directly targeted by any legislation, it was however discussed in parliament for the first time in 1921 with the aim to introduce discriminatory legislation (to become the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 1921). It was rejected by the house of commons and the house of lords over fears that the law would encourage women to explore homosexuality.
1957 – The Wolfenden Report
The Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, better known as the Wolfenden Report, was published in 1957, three years after the committee first met in September 1954. It was commissioned in response to evidence that homosexuality could not legitimately be regarded as a disease and aimed to bring about change in the current law by making recommendations to the Government.
1967- The Sexual Offences Act
10 years after the Wolfenden Report was published the government took its recommendations and implemented the Sexual Offences Act 1967. The Sexual offences Act partially legalised same-sex acts in the UK between consenting males over the age of 21 in private, this was backed by the House of Lords and the Church of England. It was not until a decade later that Scotland and Northern Ireland that they also partially legalised same-sex acts in 1980 and 1981. The Sexual Offences Act was a step towards the long road of equality.
1966 – The Beaumont Society
The Beaumont Society helped to educate the general public, medical and legal professions by providing information and researching a deeper understanding on ‘transvestism’. The Beaumont Society is the largest and longest running support group for transgender people and their families in the UK.
1970 – The UK Gay Liberation Front
The UK Gay liberation front (GLF) was founded in 1970 and fought for the rights of LGBT people. The GLF encouraged the questioning of the mainstream and the heteronormative institutions in UK society which lead to the oppression of the LGBT community. GLF came about as a result of the Stonewall riots in New York in June 1969, they went on to protest in solidarity with other oppressed groups and organised the first Pride march in 1972 which is now an event which happens annually around the world.
The GLF disbanded in late 1973 and the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), based in Manchester, led the fight for equality by legal reform. Age of consent equality, however, did not come until 2001 in England, Scotland and Wales, and 2009 in Northern Ireland.
1988 – Section 28
Section 28 of the Local Government Act was introduced by the Conservative Government lead by Margaret Thatcher, a step back in the fight for equality. Section 28 made it illegal for local authorities from ‘promoting homosexuality’ or ‘pretended family relationships’. It also banned Councils from funding educational materials and projects that were perceived to ‘promote homosexuality’. By preventing the discussion of LGBT issues, it stopped pupils and young people from getting the support they needed. In 2003 Section 28 was repealed but it was not until 2009 that the former prime minister David Cameron apologised for the legislation.
2004 – The Civil Partnership Act
In 2004 in England and wales the Civil Partnership Act allowed same-sex for the first time to legally enter into marriage like partnerships.
2004 – The Gender Recognition Act
It wasn’t until April 4th 2005 that the Gender recognition Act came into effect, and with it trans people were able to have full legal recognition of their gender. Trans people were able to get new birth certificates but the only gender options available are ‘male’ or ‘female’. Between July and October 2018, the UK Government consulted the public on reforming the Act. There is still no published report to the public of the consultation.
2010 – The Equality Act
In 2010 LGBT employees were granted protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation at work by the Equality Act. The legislation brought together existing legislation and added protections for trans workers, solidifying rights granted by the Gender Recognition Act
2013 – Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act
In England and Wales in 2013 same-sex couples were finally allowed the same privileges as opposite sex couples and were allowed to marry. Scotland in 2014 with the Marriage and Civil Partnership and Northern Ireland in January 2020 with the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2019.
By Gavyn Brewster