Wolfenden Report - Revision history

Wessexman: Witnesses book by Brian Lewis

2022-06-26T19:49:43Z

Witnesses book by Brian Lewis

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 26 June 2022
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	An account of the context in which the committee was appointed and of its internal discussions is included in Frank Mort's ''Capital Affairs'' <ref> ''Capital Affairs: London and the Making of the Permissive Society'', Yale University Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-300-11879-7, chapter 4</ref>. The text of the part of the report relating to homosexual offences in reproduced in Appendix 2 of Stephen Cretney's book on ''Same Sex Relationships'' <ref> ''Same Sex Relationships: From 'Odious Crime' to 'Gay Marriage' '', Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-19-929773-8 </ref>.		An account of the context in which the committee was appointed and of its internal discussions is included in Frank Mort's ''Capital Affairs'' <ref> ''Capital Affairs: London and the Making of the Permissive Society'', Yale University Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-300-11879-7, chapter 4</ref>. The text of the part of the report relating to homosexual offences in reproduced in Appendix 2 of Stephen Cretney's book on ''Same Sex Relationships'' <ref> ''Same Sex Relationships: From 'Odious Crime' to 'Gay Marriage' '', Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-19-929773-8 </ref>.
			Much archive material relating to the Committee was published with commentary in Brian Lewis's 2016 book Wolfenden's Witnesses: Homosexuality in Postwar Britain <ref> Published by Palgrave MacMillan as part of their Genders and Sexualities in History series </ref>.
	== Recent portrayal ==		== Recent portrayal ==
	The story of the Wolfenden Report was told in the BBC drama ''Consenting Adults'', written by Julian Mitchell and starring Charles Dance (Lord Wolfenden) and Sean Biggerstaff (Wolfenden’s gay son) <ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/consenting-adults.shtml </ref>.		The story of the Wolfenden Report was told in the BBC drama ''Consenting Adults'', written by Julian Mitchell and starring Charles Dance (Lord Wolfenden) and Sean Biggerstaff (Wolfenden’s gay son) <ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/consenting-adults.shtml </ref>.

Wessexman: added picture showing cover of the Report

2018-07-09T20:03:49Z

added picture showing cover of the Report

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 9 July 2018
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	The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]] on 24 August 1954, comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]] on 24 August 1954, comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.

			[[File:Wolfendenreportcover.JPG\|200px\|thumb\|left\|Wolfenden Report cover]]

	The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchère Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchère Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.

Ross Burgess at 11:36, 21 February 2018

2018-02-21T11:36:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 21 February 2018
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	[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]		[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]
	[[Category:Legislation]]		[[Category:Legislation]]
			[[Category:Reports]]

Ross Burgess at 08:26, 6 June 2014

2014-06-06T08:26:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 6 June 2014
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	The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]] on 24 August 1954, comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]] on 24 August 1954, comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.

	The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[~~Labouchere~~ Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchère Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.

	An account of the context in which the committee was appointed and of its internal discussions is included in Frank Mort's ''Capital Affairs'' <ref> ''Capital Affairs: London and the Making of the Permissive Society'', Yale University Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-300-11879-7, chapter 4</ref>. The text of the part of the report relating to homosexual offences in reproduced in Appendix 2 of Stephen Cretney's book on ''Same Sex Relationships'' <ref> ''Same Sex Relationships: From 'Odious Crime' to 'Gay Marriage' '', Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-19-929773-8 </ref>.		An account of the context in which the committee was appointed and of its internal discussions is included in Frank Mort's ''Capital Affairs'' <ref> ''Capital Affairs: London and the Making of the Permissive Society'', Yale University Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-300-11879-7, chapter 4</ref>. The text of the part of the report relating to homosexual offences in reproduced in Appendix 2 of Stephen Cretney's book on ''Same Sex Relationships'' <ref> ''Same Sex Relationships: From 'Odious Crime' to 'Gay Marriage' '', Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-19-929773-8 </ref>.

EricT: Made clear that it was the law about male homosexual acts that was to be considered, rather than homosexuality as such

2014-01-17T17:32:04Z

Made clear that it was the law about male homosexual acts that was to be considered, rather than homosexuality as such

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 17 January 2014
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	The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was Sir [[John Wolfenden]] CBE ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether ~~homosexuality~~ should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]], and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.		The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was Sir [[John Wolfenden]] CBE ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexual acts between men should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]], and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.

	The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]], comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]] on 24 August 1954, comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.

	The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.

EricT: Added reference to Mort;s 'Capital Affairs' and Cretney's 'Same Sex Relationships' and tidied up committee names and text of first formal recommendation.

2014-01-17T17:22:14Z

Added reference to Mort;s 'Capital Affairs' and Cretney's 'Same Sex Relationships' and tidied up committee names and text of first formal recommendation.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:22, 17 January 2014
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	The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was [[John Wolfenden]] ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]] and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.		The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was Sir [[John Wolfenden]] CBE ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]], and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.

	The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]], comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen, Dr Desmond Curran, ~~Rev~~ Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen ~~Lovidond~~ CBE, Victor Mishcon, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]], comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen OBE, Dr Desmond Curran, Revd Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead OBE, MP, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovibond CBE JP, Victor Mishcon DL, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells QC, MP, and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.

	The report recommended ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private ~~should~~ no longer be a criminal offence”'', though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour. ~~They~~ recommended that the age of consent for men to be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended that ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private be no longer a criminal offence”'' <ref>''Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution'', Home Office and Scottish Home Department, Cmnd 247, September 1957, page 115 </ref>, though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour, though Mr Rees and the Revd Scott had resigned before the committee concluded its deliberations. The Committee recommended that the age of consent for men be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.

			An account of the context in which the committee was appointed and of its internal discussions is included in Frank Mort's ''Capital Affairs'' <ref> ''Capital Affairs: London and the Making of the Permissive Society'', Yale University Press, 2010 ISBN 978-0-300-11879-7, chapter 4</ref>. The text of the part of the report relating to homosexual offences in reproduced in Appendix 2 of Stephen Cretney's book on ''Same Sex Relationships'' <ref> ''Same Sex Relationships: From 'Odious Crime' to 'Gay Marriage' '', Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-19-929773-8 </ref>.

	== Recent portrayal ==		== Recent portrayal ==

Ross Burgess: /* External links */

2014-01-11T15:38:49Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:38, 11 January 2014
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	http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/search/wolfenden%20report		http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/search/wolfenden%20report

			[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]
	[[Category:Legislation]]		[[Category:Legislation]]

Ross Burgess at 23:08, 27 May 2012

2012-05-27T23:08:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:08, 27 May 2012
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was [[John Wolfenden]] ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]] and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.		The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was [[John Wolfenden]] ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]] and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.

	The committee comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G. Cohen, Dr Desmond Curran, Rev Canon V.A. Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead, Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovidond CBE, Victor Mishcon, Goronwy Rees, Rev. R.F.V. Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee, appointed by Home Secretary [[Sir David Maxwell Fyfe]], comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G Cohen, Dr Desmond Curran, Rev Canon V A Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead, the Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovidond CBE, Victor Mishcon, Goronwy Rees, Rev R F V Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.

	The report recommended ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence”'', though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour. They recommended that the age of consent for men to be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the[[ Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence”'', though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour. They recommended that the age of consent for men to be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the [[Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.

	== Recent portrayal ==		== Recent portrayal ==

Ross Burgess: Removing superfluous blank lines

2011-10-18T22:08:32Z

Removing superfluous blank lines

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:08, 18 October 2011
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	The report recommended ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence”'', though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour. They recommended that the age of consent for men to be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the[[ Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.		The report recommended ''“homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence”'', though this was not widely accepted in the culture of the day. James Adair was the only person not in favour. They recommended that the age of consent for men to be set at 21 years of age. The recommendations led to [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]] ten years later, applying to England and Wales only, which replaced the sodomy law in the[[ Offences against the Person Act 1861]] and the 1885 [[Labouchere Amendment]] which outlawed every homosexual act short of sodomy.


	== Recent portrayal ==		== Recent portrayal ==

LGBT-HP at 19:18, 23 September 2011

2011-09-23T19:18:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:18, 23 September 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was [[John Wolfenden]](Lord Wolfenden), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]] and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.		The''' Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution''' (the Wolfenden report) was published on 4 September 1957. The chairman of the committee was [[John Wolfenden]] ('''Lord Wolfenden'''), who was asked look into whether homosexuality should remain illegal in England and Wales after three famous men, [[Lord Montagu]], [[Michael Pitt-Rivers]] and [[Peter Wildeblood]], were convicted and sent to prison for homosexual offences.

	The committee comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G. Cohen, Dr Desmond Curran, Rev Canon V.A. Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead, Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovidond CBE, Victor Mishcon, Goronwy Rees, Rev. R.F.V. Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.		The committee comprised three women and 12 men: James Adair OBE, Mrs Mary G. Cohen, Dr Desmond Curran, Rev Canon V.A. Demant, Mr Justice Diplock, Sir Hugh Linstead, Marquess of Lothian, Mrs Kathleen Lovidond CBE, Victor Mishcon, Goronwy Rees, Rev. R.F.V. Scott, Lady Stopford, William T Wells and Dr Joseph Whitby. They met on 62 days, half of the time they interviewed witnesses, including police and probation officers, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men who had been affected by the legislation of the time. Wolfenden suggested, for the sake of the ‘ladies’, they used the terms Huntley & Palmers (a make of biscuits) instead of the terms ‘homosexuals and prostitutes’.