Entry #1879: Homosexual activity in United Kingdom

Current Version

RegionUnited Kingdom
IssueHomosexual activity
StatusIllegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Start DateNov 1, 1861
End DateJul 26, 1967
DescriptionThe Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.

Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated.

Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
Sourceshttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/100/contents
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/sexual-offences-act-1967/1885-labouchere-amendment/


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Revision History (5)

edited by beeurd. Updating description and dates. Also adding sources as previous was invalid

Helpful?
0
Old Value New Value (Current)
Start Date1885Nov 1, 1861
DescriptionThe Labouchere Amendment passed making sex between two men a gross indecency, punishable by imprisonment. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.

Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated.

Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
Show Difference
The Labouchere Amendment passed making sex between two men a gross indecency, punishable by imprisonment. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women. Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment. Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
Sourceshttps://www.bl.uk/lgbtq-histories/articles/a-short-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-the-ukhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/100/contents
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/sexual-offences-act-1967/1885-labouchere-amendment/
Show Difference
https://www.bl.uk/lgbtq-histories/articles/a-short-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-the-uk https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/100/contents https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/sexual-offences-act-1967/1885-labouchere-amendment/

edited by beeurd. Updating law end date

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0
Old Value New Value
End Date1967Jul 26, 1967

edited by CHR0LL0PH0BICCC

Helpful?
1
Old Value New Value
ValueIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)

edited by beeurd

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0
Old Value (Original) New Value
Sourceshttp://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/hate_crime_domestic_violence_and_criminal_law/2647.asphttps://www.bl.uk/lgbtq-histories/articles/a-short-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-the-uk
Show Difference
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/hate_crime_domestic_violence_and_criminal_law/2647.asp https://www.bl.uk/lgbtq-histories/articles/a-short-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-the-uk
Reports (1)
  • Newer law has been passed "Homossexualidade não é ilegal no Reino Unido."

created by imullin01

Helpful?
0
Original entry
StatusIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Start Date1885
End Date1967
DescriptionThe Labouchere Amendment passed making sex between two men a gross indecency, punishable by imprisonment. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
Sourceshttp://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/hate_crime_domestic_violence_and_criminal_law/2647.asp
Reports (1)
  • Sources are invalid or broken