LGB&T milestones - a timeline of progress

 

1950s

1954

The Home Secretary appoints a committee under Sir John Wolfenden "to consider... the law and practice relating to homosexual offences and the treatment of persons convicted of such offences by the courts".

1957

 

Publication of the Wolfenden Report on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, recommending that homosexual behaviour in private between consenting adults, (i.e., over 21) should be decriminalised

1958

The Homosexual Law Reform Society begins a campaign to make homosexuality legal in the UK

1958

The Lord Chamberlain's ban on plays with homosexual themes is lifted, allowing representation in theatre and cinema

1967

The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age "in private" in England and Wales

1969

 The Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) formed as the first British gay activist group

1970s

1970

First meeting of London Gay Liberation Front (GLF) at the London School of Economics

1972

 London Friend was founded in as a befriending offshoot of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) as a telephone helpline and social support groups to help those who were isolated and coming out

1972

 National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) begins survey on police harassment of gays

1972

 The first UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London with 1,000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park

1975

 ITV broadcasts the ground breaking film ‘The Naked Civil Servant’ based on the memoirs of gay icon Quentin Crisp

1975

 London Friend was separated from CHE becoming a company limited by guarantee but without charitable status

1975

 London Friend secured an Urban Aid Grant from the Home Office, supported by Islington Council. It was the first ever government grant to a gay-led organisation

1977

 The first gay & lesbian focussed Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference took place to discuss workplace rights for Gays and Lesbians

1980s

1980

 The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age "in private" in Scotland

1982

 Terry Higgins dies of AIDS in St Thomas' Hospital London, his friends set up the Terry Higgins Trust (which became the Terrence Higgins Trust), the first UK AIDS charity.

1983

 Britain reports 17 cases of AIDS. Gay men are asked not to donate blood

1984

 Chris Smith, newly elected to the UK parliament declares: "My name is Chris Smith. I'm the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and I'm gay", making him the first openly out homosexual politician in the UK parliament

1987

 London Friend moves into its present home on the Caledonian Road

1987

 The first UK specialist HIV ward was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales; at the opening she made a point of not wearing protective gloves or a mask when she shook hands with the patients

1987

 Eastenders screen the first every gay kiss in a UK soap. The actor Michael Cashman was also a volunter at London Friend. He is now a patron

1988

 Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”

1989

 The campaign group Stonewall UK is set up to oppose Section 28 and other barriers to equality

1990s

1992

 The first Pride Festival is held in Brighton. Europride was inaugurated in London and was attended by estimated crowds of over 100,000

1997

 Angela Eagle, Labour MP for Wallasey, becomes the first MP to come out voluntarily as a lesbian

1999

 Three people die in a nail bomb attack on a gay pub in London, the Admiral Duncan, in Soho

2000s

2000

 The Labour government scraps the policy of barring homosexuals from the armed forces

2000

 The Labour government introduces legislation to repeal Section 28 in England and Wales - Conservative MPs oppose the move

2001

 The age of consent is reduced to 16 in line with the age of consent for heterosexuals

2002

 Alan Duncan becomes the first Conservative MP to admit being gay without being pushed

2003

 Section 28, which banned councils and schools from intentionally promoting homosexuality, is repealed in England and Wales

2003

 Employment Equality Regulations made it illegal to discriminate against lesbians, gays or bisexuals at work

2004

 The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is passed by the Labour Government, giving same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples

2005

 The first couples enter into civil partnerships as the Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force

2004

 Same-sex couples are granted equal rights to adopt

2009

 Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes an official public apology on behalf of the British government for the way in which Alan Turing was treated after the war

2009

 Conservative leader David Cameron apologises for introducing Section 28

2010s

2010

 The Equality Act 2010 makes discrimination against lesbians and gay men in the provision of goods and services illegal

2011

 London Friend buys the freehold to its offices on Caledonian Road

2011

 Antidote, London’s only LGBT drug and alcohol service, merges with London Friend

2012

 Government issues consultation on civil marriage for same-sex couples

2012

 London Friend celebrates 40 years serving the LGBT community