Timeline of UK LGBT History

Note: strictly speaking the year 2000 belongs to the 20th century, but for convenience it is treated here as belonging to the 21st (and similarly with other centuries).

2nd century

• 117 – Emperor Hadrian visits Britain.

9th century

• 804 – Death of Alcuin.

12th century

• 1100 – Death of King William II.
• 1102 – Council of London condemns homosexuality.
• 1109 – Death of Saint Anselm
• 1125 – Hilarius writing around this time.
• 1167 – Death of Saint Aelred
• 1199 – Death of King Richard I

14th century

• 1327 – Murder of King Edward II
• 1391 – Death of Sir John Clanvowe and Richard Neville
• 1395 – John Rykener arrested for cross-dressing

16th century

• 1533 – Buggery Act 1533 brings in the death penalty (hanging) for gay sex.

17th century

• 1625 – Death of King James I.
• 1625 – Death of Francis Bacon (philosopher).
• 1628 – Assassination of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham
• 1688 – "Glorious Revolution" brings William III to power.

18th century

• 1702 – William III dies, succeeded by Queen Anne.
• 1726 – Three men convicted of sodomy following cases brought by Thomas Newton.
• 1780 – The Ladies of Llangollen set up home together.

19th century

• 1810 – The White Swan, Vere Street raided.
• 1822 – Percy Jocelyn deposed as Bishop of Clogher for "Sodomitical practices".
• 1822 – suicide of Lord Castlereagh.
• 1828 – The Well of Loneliness First openly Lesbian novel, by the English author Radclyffe Hall, was published.
• 1861 – The Offences against the Person Act 1861 abolished the death sentence for gay sex.
• 1885 – Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 made "gross indecency" (homosexual acts, even in private) a crime. The ‘Labouchere Amendment’ was known as the “Blackmailer’s Charter”.
• 1895 – Oscar Wilde convicted of gross indecency.
• 1895 – Winston Churchill successfully sues for libel.

20th century

• 1900 – Death of Oscar Wilde.
• 1954 – Lord Montagu of Beaulieu convicted of gay offences.
• 1957 – Wolfenden Report recommends decriminalisation of homosexuality.
• 1958 – Albany Trust and Homosexual Law Reform Society formed.
• 1962 – John Vassall arrested and charged with spying.
• 1967 – Sexual Offences Act 1967 partially decriminalises sex between men in England and Wales.
• 1967 – North Western Homosexual Law Reform Committee formed, later to be re-founded as CHE.
• 1971 – CHE London Group Seven (later Croydon Area Gay Society) founded.
• 1971 – GLF Gay March: first London Gay March took place protesting against the unequal age of consent for men.
• 1972 – Allegro Music Group formed.
• 1972 – Gay News first published.
• 1972 – Gay Pride first march and carnival took place in London.
• 1974 – Lesbian & Gay Switchboard launched providing shared LGBT accommodation to Londoners.
• 1980 – Heaven, the first all-week gay nightclub, opens in London.
• 1980 – Scotland decriminalises male homosexuality.
• 1982 – Terrence Higgins Trust the HIV/AIDs charity formed.
• 1982 – Northern Ireland decriminalises male homosexuality.
• 1984 – Chris Smith MP Culture Secretary, becomes first MP to come out as being gay whilst in office. In 2005, he was the first politician to disclose he was HIV positive.
• 1988 – Section 28 passed.
• 1989 – Stonewall UK launched.
• 1989 – London Raiders LGBT Softball team begins.
• 1992 – Death of Francis Bacon (artist).
• 1992 – Gay Men Fighting AIDS founded (later GMFA).
• 1993 – Back Pocket Guide to London first published.
• 1995 – Adonis Art Gallery founded.
• 1995 – Launch of South London Gays.
• 1998 – LGBT Consortium founded.
• 1999 – Admiral Duncan pub bombed (30 April).

21st century

• 2000 – Section 28 repealed in Scotland.
• 2000 – Military lifts ban on gay people serving.
• 2000' – Age of Consent equalised.
• 2001 – Croydon Friend closed.
• 2003 – Section 28 repealed in England and Wales.
• 2003 – Discrimination at Work on the grounds of sexual orientation becomes illegal.
• 2004 – Civil Partnership Act 2004 gives legal equal rights to lesbian and gay couples.
• 2005 – First Civil partnerships performed.
• 2009 – First Derek Oyston Film Award.
• 2010 – LGBT London website set up.
• 2011 – LGBT History Project website set up.
• 2011 – Diversity Role Models launched.
• 2011 – First Out Café London, closes after 25 years.

External links

Some other LGBT timelines:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history
• http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/archive/online_resources/lgbt/timeline.aspx
• Gay Chronicles from the beginning of time to the end of World War II: http://www.webcitation.org/5knsbJ2KF
• http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/history_of_lesbian_gay_and_bisexual_equality/default.asp
• http://www.help.northwest.nhs.uk/lgbt_timeline
• http://www.pcsproud.org.uk/our_story.pdf
• http://www.womenslibrary.org.uk/laic/laictimeline/laictimeline.html
• http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/website/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/9631_GHW-A3FlagPoster.pdf