LGBT+ History

Key themes: Trans visibility, early legal challenges, beginnings of reform

• Roberta Cowell becomes the first known British trans woman to undergo gender reassignment surgery and change her birth certificate.

• The Wolfenden Committee is formed following high-profile convictions for ‘indecency’.

• The Wolfenden Report recommends decriminalising homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private. The government rejects the recommendation.

• The Homosexual Law Reform Society is founded to campaign for legal change.

Key themes: Legal reform, community building, protest

• The Minorities Research Group becomes the UK’s first lesbian social and political organisation.

• The Beaumont Society is founded to support and educate about trans identities.

• The Sexual Offences Act 1967 partially decriminalises sex between men over 21 in private (with significant exclusions).

• The Committee for Homosexual Equality (CHE) is formed.

• The Stonewall Riots in New York spark the modern global LGBT liberation movement.

Key themes: Liberation movements, visibility, backlash

• The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) is established in the UK.

• Corbett v Corbett establishes that legal sex cannot be changed from sex assigned at birth.

• The first Pride march takes place in London.

• Gay News, Britain’s first gay newspaper, is founded.

• London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard is established.

• Jan Morris publishes Conundrum, documenting her transition.

• Maureen Colquhoun becomes the first openly lesbian Labour MP.

• The Liberal Party becomes the first UK political party to support full LGBT equality.

• Gay News is prosecuted for blasphemy.

• The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association is founded.

Key themes: Health crisis, resistance, media visibility

• Decriminalisation of sex between men in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• The first UK case of AIDS is recorded.

• The Terrence Higgins Trust is founded.

• The first Black Gay and Lesbian Group is formed.

• Section 28 is introduced, banning the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality by local authorities.

• Stonewall UK is founded in response to Section 28.

• Sir Ian McKellen publicly comes out.

• Denmark becomes the first country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships.

Key themes: Visibility, legal challenges, representation

• Outrage! is formed following a series of homophobic murders.

• Justin Fashanu becomes the first professional footballer to come out as gay.

• Same-sex attraction is declassified as a mental illness by the World Health Organization.

• Press for Change is established.

• Mermaids is founded to support trans and gender-diverse young people.

• The Admiral Duncan pub bombing kills three people.

• Trans Day of Remembrance is founded.

• Bi Visibility Day is established.

Key themes: Partnership rights, workplace equality, trans recognition

• The ban on LGB people serving in the armed forces is lifted.

• The age of consent is equalised at 16.

• Section 28 is repealed across the UK.

• The Gender Recognition Act 2004 grants legal recognition to trans people.

• The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is passed.

• Same-sex couples gain adoption rights.

• Stonewall launches major education and workplace equality campaigns.

• David Cameron apologises for Section 28.

Key themes: Marriage, trans equality, international impact

• The Equality Act 2010 adds gender reassignment as a protected characteristic.

• Same-sex marriage becomes legal in England, Wales, Scotland, and later the Isle of Man.

• Stonewall extends its remit to campaign for trans equality.

• Alan Turing receives a posthumous pardon.

• The first Trans Pride event is held in Brighton.

• Ireland legalises same-sex marriage by referendum.

• The UK introduces mandatory LGBT-inclusive relationships and sex education.

• The government announces plans to ban conversion therapy.

Key themes: Data, inclusion, legislative debate

• Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Northern Ireland.

• The UK census includes questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time.

• Blood donation rules are further relaxed.

• Jake Daniels becomes the first openly gay male professional footballer in Britain in over 30 years.

• Scotland passes Gender Recognition Reform legislation, later blocked by the UK government.