Sir Ian McKellen with Michael Cashman at the 1988 Gay Rights March on Manchester in protest against Section 28.

Section 28 was a controversial amendment to the United Kingdom's Local Government Act 1986, enacted by the Local Government Act 1988 on 24 May 1988 and repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of the UK. The amendment 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".^[1] Lady Justice or Justitia is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system (particularly in Western art). ... The United Kingdom Local Government Act of 1988 was famous for introducing the controversial Section 28 into law. ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... There is no single system of local government in the United Kingdom. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... In Britain, the term maintained school is short for grant-maintained, meaning that its funding comes from the local education authority. ...

Some people believed that Section 28 prohibited local councils from distributing any material, whether plays, leaflets, books, etc, that portrayed gay relationships as anything other than abnormal. Teachers and educational staff in some cases were afraid of discussing gay issues with students for fear of losing state funding (see Controversy over applicability for more information). Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a state or province. ...

No successful prosecution was ever brought under this provision, but its existence caused many groups to close or limit their activities or self-censor. For example, a number of lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual student support groups in schools and colleges across Britain were closed due to fears by council legal staff that they could breach the Act.^[2] A lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted only to other women. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... Bisexuality is a sexual orientation which refers to the romantic and/or sexual attraction of individuals to other individuals of both their own and the opposite gender or sex. ...

While going through Parliament, the amendment was constantly relabelled with a variety of clause numbers as other amendments were added to or deleted from the Bill, but by the final version of the Bill, which received Royal Assent, it had become Section 28. Section 28 is sometimes referred to as Clause 28 — in the United Kingdom, Acts of Parliament have sections, whereas in a Bill (which is put before Parliament to pass) those sections are called clauses.^[3] Since the effect of the amendment was to insert a new section '2A' into the previous Local Government Act, it was also sometimes referred to as Section 2A.^[4] A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not been ratified, adopted, or received assent. ... // The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... An Act of Parliament or Act is law enacted by the parliament (see legislation). ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, Baroness Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups (as of May 5, 2005 elections) Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats...

History

Background

Section 28 originated in the social transition in British society from homosexuality as "illegal-but-discussed", to "legal-but-not-always approved", following debate in the 1950s and the 1967 decriminalisation of homosexual acts for those over the age of 21.

The 1980s were turbulent years politically in the UK, coinciding with the large scale social changes of Margaret Thatcher's Government (see: Thatcherism) and the rise of AIDS. Intense media interest and public fears over policies of the more left-wing local authorities towards homosexuality and education (see: Loony left) were also prominent, with widespread concern over the funding of unheard-of minor groups with significant public resources^{[citation needed]}. Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ... Margaret Thatcher Thatcherism is the system of political thought attributed to the governments of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. ... Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... “Leftism” redirects here. ... Loony left is a pejorative term usually applied to people or organizations of the political far-left, particularly by the right-wing press and tabloid newspapers of the United Kingdom. ...

The spread of AIDS had also brought about widespread fear, much of which was directed at gays and bisexuals who made up three quarters^[5] of the HIV-infected community. It seemed that sexual orientation played a factor in the spread of disease, and negative, often unfair sentiments toward the homosexual community were a consequence. These sentiments intensified already-existing opposition to school policies, activities, and practices, which supporters claimed were efforts to be inclusive of sexual minorities, and which opponents deemed as the promotion of homosexualism. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ...

In 1983 the Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, reported that a copy of a book entitled Jenny lives with Eric and Martin — portraying a little girl who lives with her father and his gay partner — was provided in a school library run by the Labour-controlled Inner London Education Authority. But it was not until 1986 that the moral panic arose and widespread protest demonstrations made a major contribution towards the subsequent passing of Section 28.^[6] The Daily Mail is a British newspaper and the oldest tabloid, first published in 1896. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jenny lives with Eric and Martin (ISBN 0907040225), originally Mette bor hos Morten og Erik, is a black-and-white picture book by the Danish author Susanne Bösche, published in 1981 in Danish and in 1983 in English. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs, from 1965 until its abolition in 1990. ... A moral panic is a reaction by a group of people based on the false or exaggerated perception that some cultural behavior or group, frequently a minority group or a subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses a menace to society. ...

A final factor was the tone taken by some extreme activist groups such as the Gay Liberation Front, cited by Baroness Knight of Collingtree (then Conservative MP Jill Knight), who introduced Section 28, and who in 1999 spoke^[7] about the purpose of that section: Gay Liberation Front Poster, New York 1970 Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was the name of a number of Gay Liberation groups, the first of which was formed in New York City in 1969, immediately after the Stonewall riots. ... Joan Christabel Jill Knight, Baroness Knight of Collingtree (born 9 July 1927) is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. ...

"Why did I bother to go on with it and run such a dangerous gauntlet? I was then Chairman of the Child and Family Protection Group. I was contacted by parents who strongly objected to their children at school being encouraged into homosexuality and being taught that a normal family with mummy and daddy was outdated. To add insult to their injury, they were infuriated that it was their money, paid over as council tax, which was being used for this. This all happened after pressure from the Gay Liberation Front. At that time I took the trouble to refer to their manifesto, which clearly stated: 'We fight for something more than reform. We must aim for the abolition of the family'."

"That was the motivation for what was going on, and was precisely what Section 28 stopped. … Parents certainly came to me and told me what was going on. They gave me some of the books with which little children as young as five and six were being taught. There was The Playbook for Kids about Sex in which brightly coloured pictures of little stick men showed all about homosexuality and how it was done. That book was for children as young as five. I should be surprised if anybody supports that. Another book called The Milkman's on his Way explicitly described homosexual intercourse and, indeed, glorified it, encouraging youngsters to believe that it was better than any other sexual way of life."

Legislation

As a consequence, many Conservative backbench MPs became concerned that left-wing councils were indoctrinating young children with what they considered to be homosexual propaganda. In 1986 Lord Halsbury first tabled a Private Member's Bill in the House of Lords entitled "An act to refrain local authorities from promoting homosexuality". At the time, the incumbent Conservative government considered Halsbury's bill to be too misleading and risky. The law successfully passed the House of Lords and was adopted by then-Conservative MP (now Dame) Jill Knight. However, overshadowed by the 1987 general election, Halsbury's bill failed. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... A backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislature who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... John Anthony Hardinge Giffard (1908-2000) was the third Earl of Halsbury, succeeding to the title in 1943. ... A Private Members Bill is a proposed law introduced by a backbench member of parliament, whether from the government or the opposition side, to that legislature or parliament. ... The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as the Lords. The Sovereign, the House of Commons (which is the lower house of Parliament and referred to as the Commons), and the Lords together comprise the Parliament. ... Joan Christabel Jill Knight, Baroness Knight of Collingtree (born 9 July 1927) is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. ... Margaret Thatcher David Steel Election 1987 Titles The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987 and was the third consecutive victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. ...

On 7 December, 1987 Conservative MP David Wilshire re-introduced an amendment to the 1988 Local Government Bill for a similar clause, entitled Clause 28.^[8] The new amendment was also championed by Knight and accepted and defended by Michael Howard, then Minister for Local Government. Despite having very little to do with the broad remit of the Act, which dealt with the compulsory tendering of school services,^[3] they attempted to quickly and quietly slip the amendment through Parliament. After being debated on 8 December 1987 it was presented to the House of Commons on 15 December 1987, shortly before the parliamentary Christmas recess. is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... David Wilshire (born 16 September 1943, Bristol) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Lady Justice or Justitia is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system (particularly in Western art). ... The Rt Hon. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

Section 28 became law on 24 May 1988. The night before, several protests were staged by lesbian women, including abseiling into Parliament and a famous invasion of the BBC's Six O'Clock News,^[3] during which one woman managed to chain herself to Sue Lawley's desk and was sat on by Nicholas Witchell.^[9] is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Australian rappel demonstrated at a dam in Norway In British English, abseiling (from the German abseilen, to rope down) is the process of descending on a fixed rope. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... Sue Lawley (born July 14, 1946) is a English broadcaster. ... Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell (born September 23, 1953) is a British journalist. ...

Controversy over applicability

After Section 28 was passed, there was some debate as to whether it actually applied in schools or whether it applied only to local authorities. Whilst head teachers and Boards of Governors were specifically exempt, schools and teachers became confused as to what was actually permitted and tended to err on the side of caution.

A National Union of Teachers (NUT) statement remarked that "While Section 28 applies to local authorities and not to schools, many teachers believe, albeit wrongly, that it imposes constraints in respect of the advice and counselling they give to pupils. Professional judgement is therefore influenced by the perceived prospect of prosecution."^[10] The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is a major trade union of school teachers in England and Wales. ...

Similarly, the Department for Education and Science made the following statement in 1988 regarding Section 28: The Department for Education and Skills is a department in the United Kingdom government created in 2001. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

"Section 28 does not affect the activities of school governors, nor of teachers... It will not prevent the objective discussion of homosexuality in the classroom, nor the counselling of pupils concerned about their sexuality."

It is said that when Knight heard this, she was somewhat upset, remarking that:

"This has got to be a mistake. The major point of it was to protect children in schools from having homosexuality thrust upon them."^[11]

In response to these criticisms, supporters claimed that the NUT and Department of Education were mistaken, and the section did affect schools.

Certainly, before its repeal, Section 28 was already largely redundant: sex education in England and Wales has been regulated solely by the Secretary of State for Education since the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and the Education Act 1996. Nevertheless, many liberal and conservative campaigners still saw Section 28 as a symbolic issue and continued to fight their own particular causes over it until its repeal. Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. ... The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... The Learning and Skills Act 2000 made changes in the funding and administration of further education, and of work-based learning (or apprenticeships) for young people, within the England and Wales. ...

Political response

The introduction of Section 28 was a blow to the gay rights cause, but it also served to galvanise the disparate British gay rights movement into action. The resulting protest saw the rise of now famous groups like Stonewall, started by, amongst other people, Ian McKellen, and OutRage!, subsequently led by Peter Tatchell.^[3] The gay rights movement is a collection of loosely aligned civil rights groups, human rights groups, support groups and political activists seeking acceptance, tolerance and equality for non-heterosexual, (homosexual, bisexual), and transgender people - despite the fact that it is typically referred to as the gay rights movement, members also... 1988 Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman of Stonewall. ... Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CBE (born May 25, 1939) is a veteran English stage and screen actor, the recipient of a Tony Award and two Oscar nominations. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence OutRage! is a direct action campaigning group in the United Kingdom which was formed to fight for the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. ... LGBT rights Around the world By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box:      Peter Gary Tatchell (born 25 January 1952) is an Australian-British human rights activist, who is best known internationally for his attempts to perform a citizens...

While the gay rights movement was united over Section 28, gay issues began to divide the Conservative party, heightening divisions between party modernists and traditionalists. In 1999 Conservative leader William Hague controversially sacked frontbencher Shaun Woodward for refusing to support the party line that Section 28 should not be repealed,^[12] prompting pro-gay rights Tories, such as Steve Norris, to speak out against the decision. 2000 saw prominent gay Conservative Ivan Massow defect to the Labour Party in response to the Conservative Party's continued support of Section 28.^[13] This article focuses on the cultural movement labeled modernism or the modern movement. See also: Modernism (Roman Catholicism) or Modernist Christianity; Modernismo for specific art movement(s) in Spain and Catalonia. ... A tradition is a story or a custom that is memorized and passed down from generation to generation, originally without the need for a writing system. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... William Jefferson Hague (born 26 March 1961) is a British politician, the Member of Parliament for Richmond, North Yorkshire, former leader of the Conservative Party, and current Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary. ... In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. ... Shaun Anthony Woodward (born October 26, 1958, Bristol) is a British politician, and Labour Member of Parliament for St Helens South. ... Steven Norris is a British Conservative politician. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ivan Massow (born 1967) is a prominent businessman and British politician, formerly chairman of Londons Institute of Contemporary Arts. ...

There is only one case of Section 28 being used to bring a case to the courts against a council. In May, 2000 — the first and last case of its kind — the Christian Institute unsuccessfully took Glasgow City Council to court for funding an AIDS support charity which the Institute alleged promoted homosexuality. The Christian Institute (CI) is a UK-based, right-wing, evangelical Christian registered charity. ... The City of Glasgow is one of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities and came into being in 1995. ...

Repeal

On 7 February 2000, the first attempted legislation to repeal Section 28 was introduced by the Labour Government, but was defeated by a House of Lords campaign led by Baroness Young. is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Janet Young, Baroness Young (October 23, 1926-September 6, 2002), was a British Conservative politician. ...

In the newly devolved Scottish Parliament the repeal process was more successful. Various groups attempted to discredit the legislation. Millionaire and evangelical Christian Brian Souter ran his own, privately funded poll as part of his Keep the Clause campaign. This poll appeared to show an overwhelming support for the clause - 86.8% in favour - although critics noted the poll was largely non-representative^[14][15] However, Section 28 (although, more accurately, it was Section 2A of the relevant Scottish legislation) was successfully repealed as part of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 on 21 June 2000 with a 99 to 17 majority vote with only two abstentions. Look up Devolution in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Brian Souter (born 1954 in Perth, Scotland), is a businessman and vile piece of scum, who was the co-founder of the Stagecoach Group, along with his sister, Ann Gloag. ... An opinion poll is a survey of opinion from a particular sample. ... The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 24 July 2000 legislation to repeal Section 28 was once again re-introduced and passed the Commons in a free vote. In the intervening period between the last attempt to repeal Section 28 the Labour Government had drastically reformed the House of Lords, with the passage into law of the House of Lords Act 1999, which removed the vast majority of hereditary peers from the Upper House. Concessions were also made in the form of the new Learning and Skills Act 2000 which emphasised family values and which was hoped would win over opponents. However the repeal once again stalled in the House of Lords. is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are each expected to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party. ... The House of Lords Act 1999, an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament, was a major constitutional enactment as it reformed greatly one of the chambers of Parliament, the House of Lords (see Lords Reform). ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-06-08, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... This article is about family values as a political concept. ...

Despite successive defeats in the House of Lords of attempts to repeal Section 28 in England and Wales, the Labour government passed legislation to repeal this section as part of the Local Government Act 2003. This passed the Lords and received Royal Assent on 18 September 2003 and the repeal became effective on 18 November 2003. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... This article is about the country. ... The Local Govenment Act 2003 is notable for being the parliamentary act that repealed Section 28. ... // The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Conservative-run Kent County Council however decided to create their own version of Section 28 to keep the effect of the now repealed law in their schools.^[16] This was replaced with provisions stating that heterosexual marriage and family relationships are the only firm foundations for society on 16 December 2004.^[17] The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... Kent County Council is the local authority for the county of Kent in south-east England, United Kingdom. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Support

Section 28 was supported by religious groups such as The Christian Institute, the African and Caribbean Evangelical Association, the Christian Action Research and Education, the Muslim Council of Britain, and groups within the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. The Conservative Party, despite dissent within its ranks on the issue, remained in favour of keeping Section 28 up until its repeal. In the House of Lords, the campaign against the repeal of Section 28 was successfully led by the late Baroness Young, who became associated with opposition to legislation more tolerant towards homosexuals. Newspapers that strongly supported Section 28 included The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph. The Christian Institute (CI) is a UK-based, right-wing, evangelical Christian registered charity. ... The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is an unincorporated association founded in 1997 with the following aims: To promote co-operation, consensus and unity on Muslim affairs in the UK. To encourage and strengthen all existing efforts being made for the benefit of the Muslim community. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic... The Church of England logo since 1998 The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Janet Young, Baroness Young (23 October 1926 – 6 September 2002), was a British Conservative politician. ... The Daily Mail and its Sunday edition the Mail on Sunday are British newspapers, first published in 1896. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ...

In Scotland the most visible supporters of Section 28 were Brian Souter and the Daily Record newspaper. Brian Souter (born 1954 in Perth, Scotland), is a businessman and vile piece of scum, who was the co-founder of the Stagecoach Group, along with his sister, Ann Gloag. ... Daily Record building at Central Quay, Glasgow The Daily Record is a combination of a comic for the mentally sub-normal and substitute tiolet paper, based in Glasgow. ...

The main argument used in support of Section 28 was the claim that it protected children from predatory homosexuals and advocates seeking to indoctrinate vulnerable young people into homosexuality. Various other arguments were also used in support of Section 28 which are summarised as follows:

• The promotion of homosexuality in schools undermines marriage.
• Section 28 prohibited only the promotion of homosexuality and did not prevent legitimate discussion.
• Section 28 did not prevent the counselling of pupils who are being bullied.
• Proponents pointed to various polls to demonstrate that public opinion favoured keeping Section 28.^[18][19][20]

Opposition

Gay rights advocates, such as Stonewall, OutRage!, The Pink Paper and the Gay Times formed the major opposition to Section 28 and led the campaign for its repeal. Prominent individuals who spoke out for the repeal of Section 28 included Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Cashman, Ivan Massow, Mo Mowlam, Simon Callow, Annette Crosbie, Michael Grade, Jane Horrocks, Michael Mansfield QC, Helen Mirren, Claire Rayner, Ned Sherrin and Alan Moore. Boy George wrote a song opposed to Section 28, entitled "No Clause 28". The song "Shoplifters of the World Unite" by The Smiths is also rumoured to be about Section 28. The band Chumbawamba recorded a single entitled "Smash Clause 28! Fight The Alton Bill!" which was an attack on Clause/Section 28 and a benefit for a gay rights group, it also featured 12 pages of hand printed notes relating to gay rights. It was also opposed by some religious groups and leaders, such as Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford. Newspapers that came out in opposition included The Guardian, The Independent and The Daily Mirror. Political parties that were opposed to Section 28 included the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. In the House of Lords the campaign for repeal was led by openly-gay peer Waheed Alli. The gay rights movement is a collection of loosely aligned civil rights groups, human rights groups, support groups and political activists seeking acceptance, tolerance and equality for non-heterosexual, (homosexual, bisexual), and transgender people - despite the fact that it is typically referred to as the gay rights movement, members also... 1988 Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman of Stonewall. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence OutRage! is a direct action campaigning group in the United Kingdom which was formed to fight for the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. ... The Pink Paper is a UK newspaper covering gay and lesbian issues. ... Gay Times is the United Kingdoms leading gay magazine,[1][2] for gay and bisexual men. ... Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CBE (born May 25, 1939) is a veteran English stage and screen actor, the recipient of a Tony Award and two Oscar nominations. ... Michael Cashman (right) with Ian McKellen at the Gay Rights March on Manchester in protest of Section 28 in 1988. ... Ivan Massow (born 1967) is a prominent businessman and British politician, formerly chairman of Londons Institute of Contemporary Arts. ... The Right Honourable Marjorie Mo Mowlam (September 18, 1949 - August 19, 2005) was a British politician, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Labour MP. Her personal charisma, reputation for plain speaking and successful fight against a brain tumour led her to be perceived by many as one of... Simon Philip Hugh Callow, CBE (born June 15, 1949 in London, England) is a highly-regarded British actor of stage, film and television, and a biographer of Orson Welles and Charles Laughton. ... Annette Crosbie, OBE (born 12 February 1934) is a Scottish character actress, best known for her many television appearances. ... Michael Ian Grade CBE (born March 8, 1943) is a British businessman and a distinguished figure in the field of broadcasting. ... Jane Horrocks Jane Horrocks (born January 18, 1964) is an English actress and singer. ... Michael Mansfield QC is a well-known British lawyer. ... Dame Helen Mirren DBE (born on July 26, 1945) is an Academy Award-winning English stage, television and film actress. ... Claire Rayner (born Claire Berenice Berk to Jewish parents in London on January 22, 1931) is a British journalist best-known for her role for many years as an agony aunt. ... Ned Sherrin (born 18 February 1931 in Somerset, England) is a broadcaster, author and stage director. ... Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton) is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... George Alan ODowd, better known as Boy George (born June 14, 1961 in Eltham, Kent) is a pop singer-songwriter. ... Shoplifters of the World Unite is a song by The Smiths. ... The Smiths were an English rock group active from 1982 to 1987. ... Chumbawamba are an English band who started out playing punk rock but over a 25-year career have gone on to play music in a wide range of styles, including pop influenced by dance music and world music, and now play acoustic folk music. ... The Rt Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, giving a speech in 2004. ... The Bishop of Oxford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... The Independent is a British compact newspaper published by Tony OReillys Independent News & Media. ... Alternate newspaper: The Daily Mirror (Australia) The Daily Mirror is a British tabloid daily newspaper. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... The Green Party was formed in 1973 as the Ecology Party. ... Waheed Alli, Baron Alli (born November 16, 1964) is a businessman and politician in the United Kingdom. ...

The main point of argument claimed by opponents of Section 28 was that it discriminated against homosexuals, and that it was an intolerant and unjust law. Various other arguments were also used against Section 28 which are summarised as follows: Intolerance is the lack of ability or willingness to tolerate something. ... Lady Justice or Justitia is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system (particularly in Western art). ...

• Evidence was emerging that, by excluding homosexual support groups and appearing to prevent teachers from protecting victims of homophobic bullying, Section 28 was actually endangering vulnerable children.
• Section 28 made the assumption that homosexuals were inherently dangerous to children, implying an association between homosexuality and paedophilia.
• Not only did Section 28 prevent the promotion of homosexuality but also it appeared to give a legal reason to oppose it in schools and other forums.
• The fact that Section 28 was law gave an impression to the public that the government sanctioned homophobia.
• The idea that homosexuality could be "promoted" implied that homosexuality was a choice which people could be persuaded to make. Many groups opposing the clause argued that sexual orientation is biologically determined and therefore the basic concept of the legislation was damaging and misleading.
• Polls indicated widespread acceptance of homosexuality and indicate that parents would like their children to be taught tolerance for LGBT people.
• It led to confusion for teachers about what they could do to support pupils who faced homophobic bullying and abuse.
• It was no longer relevant due to the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and the Education Act 1996.

A protest by The Westboro Baptist Church; a group identified by the Anti-Defamation League as virulently homophobic. ... Pedophilia or pædophilia (see spelling differences) is the psychiatric disorder of being sexually attracted to prepubescent and in some definitions, preadolescent children. ... The initialism LGBT is used to refer collectively to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. ...

In retrospect

Some prominent MPs who supported the bill when it was first introduced have since either expressed regret over their support or argued that the legislation is no longer necessary.

In an interview with gay magazine Attitude during the 2005 election, Michael Howard, then leader of the Conservative Party, commented: attitude is an award winning British gay lifestyle magazine distributed worldwide. ... Elections in 2005 brings the national/federal direct elections in the countries listed in the list of countries and the Electoral calendar. ... The Rt Hon. ...

”(Section 28) was brought in to deal with what was seen to be a specific problem at the time. The problem was the kind of literature that was being used in some schools and distributed to very young children that was seen to promote homosexuality. …. I thought, rightly or wrongly, that there was a problem in those days. That problem simply doesn’t exist now. Nobody’s fussed about those issues any more. It’s not a problem, so the law shouldn’t be hanging around on the statute book.”^[21]

In February, 2006, Conservative Party Chairman Francis Maude told Pinknews.co.uk that the policy, which he had voted for, was wrong and a mistake.^[22] For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude (born 4 July 1953) is a British politician, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Horsham, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and a member of the Privy Council. ...

See also

• Homosexuality
• Homosexual recruitment
• Gay rights in the United Kingdom
• Sex education
• Age of consent

Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... Homosexual recruitment is a term used for the idea that homosexuals (usually gay men) actively target impressionable individuals (usually youth) for homosexual indoctrination to persuade them towards homosexual self-identification, or alternatively, that there is a widespread conspiracy to subvert appropriate values by promoting homosexuality as a valid normal sexual... In the early 1950s the police were actively enforcing the laws affecting homosexual men (some say this was a result of CIA pressure following the Burgess–Maclean spy scandal). ... Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. ... Age of consent laws Worldwide While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes,[1] when used with reference to criminal law the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be capable of legally giving informed consent to any...

Notes

Categories: University stubs | Universities in London ... Hansard is the traditional name for the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

• Local Government Act (1988). Section 28. Retrieved on February 9, 2005. (Full text of the section)
• Knitting Circle. Section 28 1989 Gleanings. Retrieved on February 21, 2005. (Newspaper clippings from 1989 demonstrating use of Section 28 to close LGBT student groups and cease distribution of material exploring gay issues)
• The Guardian (31 January 2000). Jenny, Eric, Martin . . . and me. Retrieved on February 9, 2005. (article on Section 28 and the book that caused the controversy, Jenny lives with Eric and Martin, by author, Susanne Bosche)
• Knitting Circle (9 August 2001). Section 28. Retrieved on February 21, 2005. (History of Section 28 with notes on attempted legislation that led up to the final amendment)
• Gay and Lesbian Humanist Society. Section 28. Retrieved on February 28, 2005. (Notes and links on Section 28 from a humanist perspective, with notes on usage of the Section 2a name.)
• BBC News (20 January 2000). When gay became a four-letter word. Retrieved on June 4, 2005. (Potted history of Section 28 from 2000)
• USSU National Policy Issues (28 January 1988). Section 5.2.1 Stop Clause 28 (of Local Government Bill). Retrieved on June 29, 2005. (USSU National Policy Issues detailing notes on heightened violence against gays and lesbians in the lead-up to Section 28 enactment)
• BBC News (2 August 2000). Tory adviser defects to Labour. Retrieved on February 21, 2005. (Report of gay Conservative Ivan Massow's defection to the Labour Party)
• Scotsman.com News. Nicholas Witchell: A Celebration. Retrieved on May 18, 2005. (Nicholas Witchell's encounter with Section 28 protesters)
• National Union of Teachers (5 April 2003). NUT campaign to repeal Section 28. Retrieved on February 9, 2005. (Statement by the NUT on the controversy of applicability of Section 28)
• The Sunday Times (London) (29 May 1988). Schools Escape Clause 28 in 'Gay Ban' Fiasco. Retrieved on February 9, 2005. (Knight's response to the controversy of applicability of Section 28)
• BBC News (30 May 2000). Poll supports S28 retention. Retrieved on February 19, 2005. (Brian Souter's Keep the Clause campaign runs unofficial poll to discredit reformers)
• The Christian Institute. Briefing Paper - Section 28. Retrieved on May 9, 2005. (Summary of points in support of Section 28)

is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jenny lives with Eric and Martin (ISBN 0907040225), originally Mette bor hos Morten og Erik, is a black-and-white picture book by the Danish author Susanne Bösche, published in 1981 in Danish and in 1983 in English. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Section 28 from Open Directory Project
• Full Text of the Local Government Act 1988
• BBC News. The Section 28 Battle. Retrieved on July 24, 2000.