The UK has one of the highest ranking freedom scores for Liberty rights for LGBT communities in the world. We trace London’s Vibrant LBGT scene. Love Gets Bigger Today, Quest and Liberty.
What do LGBT and LGBTQ mean?
Letters, to words, mean different things to different people but the universal topic that joins all of these identities is Love & Equality. Whether it is loving an identity, being part of a movement or part of an increasing society that stands up for inclusion. Many still do not know what these letters stand for though. But a Striped coloured flag is one of the most iconic symbols known all over the world.
Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Queer
Why is the LGBT flag striped?
Colour stripes make up the Rainbow flag, which is recognised internationally as a symbol of gay rights. It came out in 1978 and was designed by Gilbert Baker, who was a gay rights activist. Here are what the colours of the original set of stripes meant. The amount of stripes has been simplified over the years or adapted. The red stripe hangs at the top.
What was the first series of colours
- Hot pink = sex
- Red = Life
- Orange = Healing
- Yellow = Sunlight
- Green = Nature
- Turquoise = Magic/ Arts
- Indigo = Serenity
- Violet = Spirit.
What is the meaning of PRIDE in the LGBTQ movement?
A word associated with solidarity defending the rights of the LGBTQ movement. The Rainbow flag colours being used during events, or when buildings which to declare they welcome members of the LGBTQ community.
The First Pride March in London?
In 1970 Gay men marched over Highbury Fields in London, for equality. The First Pride event in London was 1st July 1972. This date was chosen to be as near as possible to the date of the actual Stonewall Riots, in the USA.
Stonewall Riots were in defence of Gay rights, in Manhattan New York, on the 28th June 1st July 1969. They were violent activist retaliations against the police who had raided the Stonewall Inn. In the 60s, they raided places regularly in America. Too many things were against the law if one was Gay. The Stonewall Inn was a shelter and inclusive place for members of the LGBTQ community, even though it was risky because most places were not catering for LGBTQ people, or not being allowed to. The Raid on the Inn was the last straw and had a chain reaction that changed destiny all over the world and is a significant date in the LGBTQ calendar.
1970, saw the first Pride event, in the USA, in New York. A march took place on the 1st yr anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
Significant historical LGBTQ events in the UK
1967 LGBT and the Law, United Kingdom
Decriminalisation of Homosexuality. Sexual Offences Act of 1967. Same-sex relations between males was allowed in private if both over the age of 21.
Same-sex relations between two women was never against the law
1973 homosexuality reclassified
Homosexuality was reclassified in the Statistical Manual of Disorders in the UK from a Mental Disorder to sexual orientation disturbance – (the reclassification was still concerning)
The American Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,(DSM) had homosexuality removed, for it previously was listed as a mental disorder, but was rebranded as “sexual orientation disturbance”. Still concerning.
1987 homosexuality is no longer classified as a Mental Disorder
DSM, see above, totally drops all rebranded words for homosexuality from being listed as a mental disorder.
1990 WHO (World Health Organisation) declassified homosexuality
Moreover, the WHO has a mental health classification book called the ICD, homosexuality was removed as a disease.
2000 LGBT can now join the armed forces
HM British Armed forces lifted the ban on recruiting LGBT people
2001 Age of Consent was Equalised
Age of consent was equalised no matter what orientation to 16 England, Scotland and Wales.
2002 LGBT adoption became possible
Gay people and unmarried couples to adopt children.
2003 LGBT – repeal of the controversial Section 28 legislation in the UK
Repeal of the controversial Section 28 legislation in the UK, 2001 in Scotland. Section 28, was under the Local Government Act 1988. Schools, teachers were not allowed to discuss same-sex relationships with students.
Council libraries were not allowed to stock LGBT themed books or films. It was endorsed by the Prime Minister of the time, Thatcher. It was seen as a homophobic stance which instilled bullying, playground prejudice, it prevented people from accessing educational material about these topics. Demonstrations, marches, and activism retaliated against this.
2004 – Same-sex civil partnership became possible
Same-sex civil partnerships were granted England & Wales
2005 Transgender people had the right to change their legal gender
Transgender people had the right to change their legal gender, this came under, The Gender Recognition Act 2004.
2008 Homophobic Hate crime was now illegal
Homophobic hate crime was now illegal in the UK.
2009 Public apology by the then PM given for the treatment to the World War 2 code Breaker Alan Turing
Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a public apology for the treatment of Alan Turing. Turing was a WW2 code breaker and brilliant mathematician, associated with the Enigma machine, and Bletchley Park. Due to the fact, Turing was convicted in 1952 for his sexuality and having relations with a man. He suffered inhumanely as a result. It caused him health problems, and lead him to take his own life in 1954.
2013 Same-Sex marriages where legalised
Same-sex marriages were legalised in England, Scotland and Wales, came into force 2014
Pardoning is also a new concept, The Alan Turing Law, that gives gay people convicted for homosexual acts that are no longer illegal amnesty to have those convictions removed, or in essence to not have a criminal record because of their orientation.
Alan Turing the WW2 code breaker was given a posthumous royal pardon in 2013.
2018 the BBC Strictly Come Dancing show in 2018 hosted same gender couple
30th September BBC Strictly Come Dancing results show, hosted the first time professional dancers used same-gender couples in their group performance. Excellent!
