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LGBT History Month: Advances in the fight for equality

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News on 7th February, 2019

History shows huge advances in the fight for equality for LGBT+ people, but there is still much to be done before true equality is seen. Much of the progress towards equality has only taken place in the last 50 years and in the UK we have made notable progress, however, in many countries same sex relationships are still not allowed.

There are over 70 countries where being gay is illegal and more than 10 countries where being gay is punishable by death. We still live in a world where holding someone’s hand can provoke vulnerability, instead of promoting love and reassurance!

Key dates after 2010 show how much is changing, but until very recently things were very different for the LGBT+ community.

2010

  • The Equality Act 2010 added gender reassignment as a protected characteristic
  • Stonewall requested an amendment to the Equality Act to remove the ban on religious groups from holding civil partnerships on their premises

2011

  • The ban on gay men donating blood is removed (although a 12 month celibacy clause remains in place)
  • Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative MP, is the first openly gay leader of a political party

2012

  • The Protection of Freedoms Act passed in the UK allowing for historic convictions for consensual sex between men to be removed from criminal records

2013

  • Same Sex Marriage Act passed in England
  • First Trans Pride march in Brighton

2014

  • The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 comes into force

2017

  • The Government issues a posthumous pardon to all gay and bi men who were convicted for sexual offences in the last century which enabled police to criminalise people for being gay or bi.

A history wall chart can be viewed and printed for display in your service area – download available here.

This Youtube video provides a brief five minute tour through LGBTQ+ history and the fight for equality. It provides an informative background on why Pride marches are so important and why LGBT History Month is so needed and is celebrated across the world. 

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