Patrick Trevor-Roper - Revision history

LGBT-HP: Fix bare tag: MW 1.45.1 Cite requires self-closing

2026-07-10T13:09:44Z

Fix bare <references> tag: MW 1.45.1 Cite requires self-closing <references/>

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:09, 10 July 2026
Line 12:		Line 12:

	==References==		==References==
	<references>		<references/>

Wessexman: meeting with Radev

2024-08-21T15:56:37Z

meeting with Radev

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 21 August 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London. One of his hospitals was the Whittington where he met Bulgarian-Macedonian Mattei Radev (1927-2009). Trevor-Roper introduced Radev to London art circles. This led to Radev getting to met rich and influential gay men.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Winter and Trevor-Roper presented their evidence to the Committee in a joint interview on Thursday 28 July 1955 as 'Doctor' and 'Mr White' <ref> Brian Lewis (2016) Wolfenden's Witnesses: Homosexuality in Postwar Britain (Palgrave Macmillan) pp 218-224 </ref>.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Winter and Trevor-Roper presented their evidence to the Committee in a joint interview on Thursday 28 July 1955 as 'Doctor' and 'Mr White' <ref> Brian Lewis (2016) Wolfenden's Witnesses: Homosexuality in Postwar Britain (Palgrave Macmillan) pp 218-224 </ref>.

Wessexman at 19:47, 27 May 2022

2022-05-27T19:47:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:47, 27 May 2022
Line 8:		Line 8:
	Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory [[age of consent]] laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], the United Kingdom's leading [[AIDS]] service organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.		Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory [[age of consent]] laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], the United Kingdom's leading [[AIDS]] service organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.

	The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis ~~Abeba~~, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.		The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.

Wessexman: 'Doctor' at Wolfenden Committee.

2022-05-27T19:46:52Z

'Doctor' at Wolfenden Committee.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 27 May 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Winter and Trevor-Roper presented their evidence to the Committee in a joint interview on Thursday 28 July 1955 as 'Doctor' and 'Mr White' <ref> Brian Lewis (2016) Wolfenden's Witnesses: Homosexuality in Postwar Britain (Palgrave Macmillan) pp 218-224 </ref>.

	Trevor-Roper told the Wolfenden Committee that the majority of gay men led normal and well-adjusted lives, posed no threat to children or public morality, and that homosexuality was not a physical or mental illness. He pointed out that the existing laws did nothing but encourage blackmailers. He argued that the age of consent should be lowered to 16, and told the committee that many young gay men committed or attempted suicide because of isolation or depression induced by homophobia.		Trevor-Roper told the Wolfenden Committee that the majority of gay men led normal and well-adjusted lives, posed no threat to children or public morality, and that homosexuality was not a physical or mental illness. He pointed out that the existing laws did nothing but encourage blackmailers. He argued that the age of consent should be lowered to 16, and told the committee that many young gay men committed or attempted suicide because of isolation or depression induced by homophobia.
Line 9:		Line 9:

	The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.		The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.


			==References==
			<references>


	[[Category:Scientists]]		[[Category:Scientists]]

Ross Burgess at 13:12, 14 March 2016

2016-03-14T13:12:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:12, 14 March 2016
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at Clare College, [[Cambridge]] ~~University~~ and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Ross Burgess at 19:16, 1 February 2016

2016-02-01T19:16:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 1 February 2016
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at Clare College, [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		[[File:Patrick Trevor-Roper.jpg\|thumb\|Patrick Trevor-Roper]]'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at Clare College, [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Line 15:		Line 15:
	[[Category:2004 deaths]]		[[Category:2004 deaths]]
	[[Category:1916 births]]		[[Category:1916 births]]
	~~[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]~~

Ross Burgess at 10:14, 1 July 2015

2015-07-01T10:14:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:14, 1 July 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at Clare College, [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Ross Burgess at 18:27, 2 January 2014

2014-01-02T18:27:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:27, 2 January 2014
Line 6:		Line 6:
	These were highly controversial views in the 1950s. Trevor-Roper's testimony helped persuade the Committee to recommend that male homosexuality should be decriminalised, which was finally done, after a long political struggle, in 1967.		These were highly controversial views in the 1950s. Trevor-Roper's testimony helped persuade the Committee to recommend that male homosexuality should be decriminalised, which was finally done, after a long political struggle, in 1967.

	Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory [[age of consent]] laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], the United Kingdom's leading [[AIDS ~~service~~]] organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.		Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory [[age of consent]] laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], the United Kingdom's leading [[AIDS]] service organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.

	The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.		The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.

Ross Burgess at 00:07, 31 December 2013

2013-12-31T00:07:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 31 December 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Patrick Trevor-Roper (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004)~~'''~~, British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		'''Patrick Trevor-Roper''' (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004), British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Line 14:		Line 14:
	[[Category:Campaigners]]		[[Category:Campaigners]]
	[[Category:2004 deaths]]		[[Category:2004 deaths]]
			[[Category:1916 births]]
			[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]

Ross Burgess at 12:26, 20 November 2013

2013-11-20T12:26:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:26, 20 November 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Patrick Trevor-Roper (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004)''', British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in Northumberland, the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at Cambridge University and the Westminster Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.		'''Patrick Trevor-Roper (7 June 1916 - 22 April 2004)''', British eye surgeon and pioneer gay rights activist, was one of the first people in the United Kingdom to "come out" as openly gay, and played a leading role in the campaign to repeal the UK's anti-gay laws. He was born in [[Northumberland]], the son of a doctor, and the brother of historian Hugh Trevor-Roper. He was educated at [[Cambridge]] University and the [[Westminster]] Medical School. During World War II he served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean. After the war he became a specialist in ophthalmic surgery, and divided his working life between work in public hospitals and a lucrative private practice in London.

	In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and Carl Winter, director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.		In 1955 Trevor-Roper agreed to appear as a witness before the [[Wolfenden Committee]], which had been appointed by the British government to investigate (among other things) whether male homosexuality should remain a crime. He was one of only three men who could be found to appear as openly-gay witnesses before the Committee. The others were the journalist [[Peter Wildeblood]] (who had been convicted of a homosexual offence) and [[Carl Winter]], director of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

	Trevor-Roper told the Wolfenden Committee that the majority of gay men led normal and well-adjusted lives, posed no threat to children or public morality, and that homosexuality was not a physical or mental illness. He pointed out that the existing laws did nothing but encourage blackmailers. He argued that the age of consent should be lowered to 16, and told the committee that many young gay men committed or attempted suicide because of isolation or depression induced by homophobia.		Trevor-Roper told the Wolfenden Committee that the majority of gay men led normal and well-adjusted lives, posed no threat to children or public morality, and that homosexuality was not a physical or mental illness. He pointed out that the existing laws did nothing but encourage blackmailers. He argued that the age of consent should be lowered to 16, and told the committee that many young gay men committed or attempted suicide because of isolation or depression induced by homophobia.
	These were highly controversial views in the 1950s. Trevor-Roper's testimony helped persuade the Committee to recommend that male homosexuality should be decriminalised, which was finally done, after a long political struggle, in 1967.		These were highly controversial views in the 1950s. Trevor-Roper's testimony helped persuade the Committee to recommend that male homosexuality should be decriminalised, which was finally done, after a long political struggle, in 1967.

	Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory age of consent laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the United Kingdom's leading AIDS service organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.		Trevor-Roper remained an active gay rights activist, campaigning in particular for the abolition of the discriminatory [[age of consent]] laws. (The 1967 law set the age of consent for male homosexuals at 21, while the heterosexual age of consent was 18.) When the AIDS epidemic appeared in the early 1980s, Trevor-Roper was one of the founders of the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], the United Kingdom's leading [[AIDS service]] organisation, which held its first meeting at his home.

	The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.		The other cause to which Trevor-Roper devoted himself was better access to ophthalmic medicine, both in the United Kingdom and in African countries. He campaigned successfully for the repeal of British laws which prevented the sale of cheap spectacles, against the resistance of the opticians' lobby. In 1983, he helped finance Peter Risdon in his successful challenge to the opticians' monopoly in the UK, a challenge that led directly to the legalisation of the sale of reading glasses without prescription. He founded the Haile Selassie Eye Hospital in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and assisted in the founding of similar hospitals in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He was also active in heritage conservation causes in the United Kingdom.