Thatcher and sexuality

Thatcher was very keen to promote family values (heterosexual, monogamous marriage)
Aimed to stop the promotion of homosexuality in schools
She was scared of moral decline due to promotion of homosexuality

1 of 4

HIV and AIDS

HIV was first diagnosed in Britain in 1981 and was associated with gay men
By the 1990s, more heterosexual men were also being diagnosed
Ignorance about the dieases led to anti-gay attitudes - 1987 survey showed 3/4 people saw homosexuality as mostly or always wrong
Rather than suggesting abstinence, Thatcher supported a safe sex campaign to promote the use of condoms
Shows the government were able to work pragmatically

2 of 4

The government passed two laws to ban the discussion of homosexuality in schools
Section 46 of the 1986 Education Act specified that sex education should promote the values of family life
Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act banned material that promoted homosexuality as a way of life
Was a response to right-wing press campaigns against books like Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin - a book to help young children adaot to living with same sex parents
Led to several protests by gay and lesbian groups including the invasion of the BBC News Studios
Stonewall was formed by Ian Mckellen and other ay rights activists in 1989 - they campaigned for the repeal of section 28 and the recognition as violence against LGBT+ members as hate crime
LGBT rights campaigners claimed that Thatcher caused even more division rather than solving problems by outlawing the promotion of homosexuality

3 of 4

1985 - My Beautiful Laundrette's main storylne features a love affair between two gay men, was nominated for Oscars and BAFTAs
1989 - EastEnders screened the first ever gay kiss on British television
Pop music - Boy George and Marylin were famed for their androgynous appearance. The Pet Shop Boys' single 'It's a Sin' challenged perceptions about the wrongness of gay desire
Major years - The 1992 film Peter's Friends was about a gay man telling his friends that he was HIV positive
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) made a point that gay couples could never celebrate their love through marriage
Major made a symbolic gesture in 1994 by inviting Ian Mckellen to Downing Street. He was also forced to acknowledge that his 'back to basics' campaign was not an attack on homosexuality
Lowered the age of consent of gay men from 21 to 18

4 of 4