Documentaries: Research Section 28

 

Section 28 research 

**Section 28 LGBT History Month**

Section 28 was enacted on the 24th of May 1988 and repealed on the 21st of June 2000 in Scotland, the rest of the UK followed on the 18th of November 2003 by section 122 of the Local Government Act in 2003.'The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". '

**Guardian November 2003** 

From midnight the section 28 legislation described by some as "pernicious" and "homophobic" will be repealed.

'Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 prohibited local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality or gay "pretended family relationships", and prevented councils spending money on educational materials and projects perceived to promote a gay lifestyle.' However Tory-led Kent county council has decided to keep the spirit of section 28 by being the only authority in Britain to fashion it into the curriculum of its 600 schools. 

"In July 2000 Kent county council (KCC) agreed a policy...which said, 'KCC shall not publish, purchase or distribute material with the intention of promoting homosexuality."

"This in no way was a statement against homosexuality, and it certainly was in no way against school sex education including an understanding of homosexuality. It was against the 'intentional promotion', which is very different."

"This is particularly important in primary schools and has widespread support among parents. I have, however, said repeatedly that neither the county council nor I myself have any view other than understanding about adult homosexuality, and ... what two adults do is entirely up to them."

'However, on the Kent Conservatives' website, a page topped with Sir Sandy's picture quotes him as saying: "We must protect our children as they grow up. We believe that Section 28 is right in prohibiting the intentional promotion of homosexuality in our schools.'

Ben Summerskill, the director of Stonewall, said: "Its removal is hugely important because it is totemic ... It was deliberately designed to stigmatise and demean 3 million people."

'Section 28 was first proposed in a private member's bill by the independent peer Lord Halsbury, and tabled in December 1986. It was not aimed at "responsible homosexuals", he had said, adding that there were homosexuals who "would no more molest little boys than a responsible adult would molest little girls".

However, there were "sick" homosexuals, "suffering" symptoms of promiscuity, exhibitionism, "boasting" of homosexual achievements and an urge to persuade other people that their way of life was a good one. He said they acted as "reservoirs" for venereal disease.'