1950S
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1954
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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
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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
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The Homosexual Law Reform Society begins a campaign to make homosexuality legal in the UK |
1958
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The Lord Chamberlain's ban on plays with homosexual themes is lifted, allowing representation in theatre and cinema |
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1967
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The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age "in private" in England and Wales |
1969
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The Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) formed as the first British gay activist group |
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1970S
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1970
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First meeting of London Gay Liberation Front (GLF) at the London School of Economics |
1972
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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
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National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) begins survey on police harassment of gays |
1972
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The first UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London with 1,000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park |
1975
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ITV broadcasts the ground breaking film ‘The Naked Civil Servant’ based on the memoirs of gay icon Quentin Crisp |
1975
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London Friend was separated from CHE becoming a company limited by guarantee but without charitable status |
1975
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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
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The first gay & lesbian focussed Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference took place to discuss workplace rights for Gays and Lesbians |
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1980S
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1980
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The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age "in private" in Scotland |
1982
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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
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Britain reports 17 cases of AIDS. Gay men are asked not to donate blood |
1984
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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
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London Friend moves into its present home on the Caledonian Road |
1987
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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
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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
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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
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The campaign group Stonewall UK is set up to oppose Section 28 and other barriers to equality |
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1990S
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1992
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The first Pride Festival is held in Brighton. Europride was inaugurated in London and was attended by estimated crowds of over 100,000 |
1997
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Angela Eagle, Labour MP for Wallasey, becomes the first MP to come out voluntarily as a lesbian |
1999
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Three people die in a nail bomb attack on a gay pub in London, the Admiral Duncan, in Soho |
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2000S
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2000
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The Labour government scraps the policy of barring homosexuals from the armed forces |
2000
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The Labour government introduces legislation to repeal Section 28 in England and Wales - Conservative MPs oppose the move |
2001
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The age of consent is reduced to 16 in line with the age of consent for heterosexuals |
2002
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Alan Duncan becomes the first Conservative MP to admit being gay without being pushed |
2003
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Section 28, which banned councils and schools from intentionally promoting homosexuality, is repealed in England and Wales |
2003
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Employment Equality Regulations made it illegal to discriminate against lesbians, gays or bisexuals at work |
2004
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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
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The first couples enter into civil partnerships as the Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force |
2004
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Same-sex couples are granted equal rights to adopt |
2009
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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
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Conservative leader David Cameron apologises for introducing Section 28 |
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2010S
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2010
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The Equality Act 2010 makes discrimination against lesbians and gay men in the provision of goods and services illegal |
2011
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London Friend buys the freehold to its offices on Caledonian Road |
2011
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Antidote, London’s only LGBT drug and alcohol service, merges with London Friend |
2012
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Government issues consultation on civil marriage for same-sex couples |
2012
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London Friend celebrates 40 years serving the LGBT community |
2013
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The Marriage (Same Sex Couples Act) passes Parliament and gains Royal Assent. The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales take place in 2014. |
2013
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The first Trans Pride event takes place in Brighton |
2015
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The Women and Equalities Committee launch a review into trans equality |
2017
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The Government launches the largest ever survey of LGBT people in the UK, publishing the result in 2018 |
2018
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The LGBT Survey forms the basis of a Government LGBT Action Plan |
2019
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The Women and Equalities Committee publish their Health and Social Care and LGBT Communities report |
2019
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London hosts its first Trans Pride. |
