Richard Minkley found out how Nottingham Contemporary is marking PrideÂ
Thousands of people in Nottingham will celebrate LGBT Pride during the 50th anniversary week of gay sex being decriminalised by the Government.
LGBT Pride is the stance against discrimination based on a person’s sexuality.
The Sexual Offences Act 1967 came into force on July 27 of that year. It decriminalised the act of sex between two consenting adults of the same gender aged 21 or above.
But it did not completely decriminalise homosexuality – this took several more years – although it was seen as a landmark piece of legislation.
The University of Nottingham posted a video of students sharing their stories of coming out while at the university to commemorate the anniversary.
Student Ibtisam said: “The first time I told someone, I was mortified – I didn’t know how they would take it.
“I decided to pick one housemate I had who was gay because I knew he wouldn’t judge me but I couldn’t do it.
“I was crying and after about 10 minutes, I blurted out the words ‘I’m gay’ and he took it great, he was wonderful about it.”
Paula said: “I came out to my Dad accidentally, which was interesting for both of us.
“With Mum, it was a little bit harder but I feel like if you grow up with a certain way of thinking, not to excuse people who believe certain things, but there is a level of having to unlearn and pick apart why you think a certain way.
“I think with my mum as well, me coming out to her brought it a little bit closer to home and it was the idea that she definitely loves me and we are lovable.”
Video: University of Nottingham students on their experience of coming out (Video: University of Nottingham)
Artists at the Nottingham Contemporary are making a golden canopy to commemorate Pride this weekend with British-born gay Muslim Kashif Nadim Chaudry leading the workshop.
Mr Chaudry said: “I’ve described it as a royal and regal canopy as it is inspired by those kings and queens would have walked under in Tudor times.
“Between six and eight people will carry it on bamboo canes which will also be decorated and covered in flowers and we’ll walk with it during the Pride parade.
“It’s the idea that by walking with it, we all become kings and queens for a day.”
US president Donald Trump posted a series of Tweets on Wednesday (July 26) claiming transgender people to be a ‘burden’ on the military and would not serve under his presidency – in a move critics said was a huge step backwards in the fight for equal LGBT rights.
The Tweets said: “After consultation with my generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military.
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”
Speaking of Donald Trump’s Tweets, Mr Chaudry said: “I think it’s very bad timing with this decision, not that there’s a good time with this sort of thing.
“He has overnight destroyed the lives of thousands of people in the armed services, people who have been serving there for a long time.
“I can’t see there is any valued decision for him to make that decision – I don’t understand why.”
Ms Franklin said: “It’s a repulsive and disgusting policy decision on the part on the Trump administration.
“That’s not really deviating from the theme though – it’s a distraction tactic as he knows transgender issues are very high in discussion topics around the world.
“It’s to get everybody to argue as we’ve seen newspapers do the same with feminism to sell papers.”
After several attempts to introduce homosexual reform, Lord Arran introduced the Bill in the House of Lords in May 1966 after the general election.
As soon as the Bill passed, Leo Abse MP introduced it into the House of Commons under a ten minute rule procedure, with the support of the Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins.
A standing committee was set up to consider amendments and after an intense night of debates, at the third reading, the Bill was passed 101 votes to 16.
After passing all stages in both houses, the bill received Royal Assent on July 21 1967.
While the Act was a considerable milestone in achieving homosexual law reform, equality for the LGBT community was far from being achieved.
Restrictions were placed on what was considered private and the Act only applied to England and Wales without covering the Merchant Navy or the Armed Forces.
It would take a number of years for Parliament to fully legalise homosexuality.
