Gay Rights in 1980s Britain

The 1980s was a decade of intensified homophobia due to the Conservative Government being in opposition to the LGBT community. LGBT Rights came to prominence after the decriminalisation of homosexuality between 1967 and throughout the 80s.


1980 -  The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act decriminalised homosexuality with two men aged over 21in private Scotland.

1980 - The first Black Gay and Lesbian group formed in the UK.

1982 - The Homosexual Offences Order decriminalises sex between 2 men the age of 21 "in private" in Northern Ireland

1984 - The first openly gay politician, Chris Smith.

1987 - The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) is founded to promote acceptance for transgender people.

1987 - Margret Thatcher attacked LGBT community saying there was "no such right"

1988 - UK Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher, introduces Section 28 of Local Government Act 1988. The act states that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish materials with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretend family relationship."

1988 - Sir Ian McKellen comes out on the UK's BBC Radio in response to the governments proposed Section 28 in British Parliament. Stonewall UK is formed. ( a charity for the LGBT community)

1988 - London Pride parade was double what it had been in previous years (it increased to 30,000 marchers).

1989 - The number of gay and bisexual men convicted for consenting same-sex behaviour was almost as great as in 1954-55, when male homosexuality was totally illegal and when the country was gripped by a McCarthyite anti-gay witch-hunt.