Recognising equality and diversity

Just imagine if the thing or person you loved was illegal or the rights you take for granted didn’t exist. Forty years ago in Britain, falling in love the wrong person could make you a criminal.
Poster showing banned activities for LGBT people

Just smiling at a passer by in the park could be enough for you to be arrested and being in the wrong address book could cost you a prison sentence.

Before 1967 homosexuality was illegal and hundreds of thousands of men lived in fear of being picked up by police officers wanting easy convictions, often for doing nothing more than looking a bit gay.

But on 5 July 1967, a bill to legalise homosexuality made its final stages through the House of Commons. To recognise the 40 year anniversary of this we look back over some landmark events that have led the way to ensuring equality of all.

  • 1967 Sexual Offences Act in England and Wales decriminalises homosexual acts between two men over 21 years and in private. Scotland legalises it in 1980; Northern Ireland in 1982.

  • 1988 Section 28, preventing the 'promotion' of homosexuality, introduced as part of the Local Government Act on 24 May.

  • 1994 Age of consent lowered to 18 from 21, despite unsuccessful campaign to lower it to 16, the consensual age for heterosexuals

  • 2000 Government lifts ban on lesbian and gay men in the armed forces

  • 2001 Age of consent lowered to 16

  • 2003 Section 28 successfully repealed on 18 November

  • 2005 First civil partnerships take place

  • 2007 The Equality Act (sexual orientation) Regulations 2007 – outlawing discrimination of services and goods on the basis of sexuality.

But the fight continues...
In the UK and other countries (including some of our favourite holiday destinations) even the most basic of rights don’t exist.

UK - A recent report by Stonewall says that a survey they have undertaken indicates sixty-five per cent of lesbian and gay school pupils have been bullied because of their sexuality and that half of teachers ignore homophobic language when they hear it and that 30 per cent of the pupils say adults at their school are responsible for the bullying.

Jamaica – This part of the Caribbean has been described as one of the most dangerous places for LGBT people, with frequent attacks against gay men.

Russia - A group of activists, including several European parliamentarians came under attack when they tried to present a petition asking Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, to lift a ban on a Gay Pride parade. Witnesses said the police watched as protesters chanting "death to homosexuals" beat up several activists.

Zanzibar – A 60th birthday gala for rock star Freddy Mercury was cancelled in September. The government outlawed homosexuality in 2004 and set prison terms of up to 25 years for men and 7 years for lesbians.

Nigeria – Proposals by the Nigerian Government seek to imprison gay rights advocates, silence public discussion, and impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone entering a same-sex marriage. The bill would also punish gay clubs, societies and organisations. The death penalty is already applied in sharia law states. In September (2006), the family of 20-year-old Emmanuel Obahiaghbon reported him to the authorities and asked for the maximum penalty – death by stoning. He sought asylum in the UK, but was deported back to Nigeria in December. 

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