The infamous Section 28 of the Local Government Act of 1988 is now 32 years old. Conservative Government legislation Section 28 forbade councils funding books, films, leaflets, plays or other materials showing same-sex relationships. LGBT+ youth groups were closed. Teachers were prohibited from informing children about LGBT+ people and their relationships. The reviled act ushered in an era of tacitly sanctioned hatred from then prime minster Margaret Thatcher. She told the Conservative party conference of 1987 “Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life. Yes cheated.”
In the months preceding the general election of 1988 the Conservatives were whipping up hatred against LGBT+ by claiming on campaign posters and leaflets that Labour wanted to introduce LGBT+ friendly books such as The Milkman`s on His Way and Young, Gay and Proud to the school curriculum. The LGBT+ community demonstrated against Section 28, notably in Manchester where approx. 20,000 people marched through the city centre. During the bill`s passage in the House of Lords, a group of four lesbians abseiled in the chamber an act of defiance that made headlines. On the night before Section 28 became law, lesbians again protested, this time live on the Six O`clock News on the BBC with Sue Lawley. One woman chained herself to camera and another to the newsdesk.
Despite unprecedented protest, the act containing Section 28 was passed shortly after the Conservatives election win.Section 28 was the government`s response to increased calls for equality by lesbian and gay activists. The legislation remained active until 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England Wales when it was repealed. “I am proud to have moved the clause that abolished Section 28 once and for all” said Ed Davey, acting co-leader of the Liberal Democrats. “But we still have far to go. From trans rights to tackling the persistent discrimination faced by the LGBT+ community: the fight is far from over.”
Trans children are having their rights questioned and denied by recent plans, put forward by Equalities minister Liz Truss, which seek to restrict access to healthcare for trans youth. The plans have been likened to Section 28 by Stonewall which was originally started to combat Section 28. “When Stonewall was campaigning to oppose Section 28, we were often told that young lesbian, gay and bi people are impressionable, vulnerable and don’t understand themselves. Today we know this simply isn`t the case and is thankfully something we hear less often. So we can`t let history repeat itself and roll-back of existing rights happen because the same arguments are now being made about trans people.”
At the current time, more than 45,000 people have signed a petition opposing Liz Truss`s plans. With lockdown meaning protest marches are not feasible, the trans community and allies have embarked on a letter writing campaign to the minister. “We are constantly being attacked and vilified by the media, politicians and members of transphobic hate groups and we need to speak up against this with once voice,” the campaign said.
You can also write your own letter, or email your concerns to Lizz Truss, there is a very helpful website here, with guidance, advice and support in how to do that. The campaign, ‘Dear Liz’, has been set up in the wake of Truss’ comments on her plans for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), which is the law that has, for 16 years, governed the process by which transgender people can update the gender marker on their birth certificates.
See MindOut`s response to the announcement on Trans rights here
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