Fifty years ago, a new piece of legislation was passed that set into motion the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.
The Sexual Offences Act 1967 was a landmark moment, implemented at a time when the prosecution of gay men was on the increase. Although it didn’t actually decriminalise homosexuality – and indeed there was a spike in prosecutions in the years that followed – it was a turning point in the legal and societal status of homosexuality in the UK, and paved the way for legal equality.
To mark the 50th anniversary of this historic act, Hull commissioned a series of projects and events in celebration of LGBT+ history and culture across the city. The video above gives a flavour of the events that took place across the city, including the first ever UK Pride, which Hull was given the honour of hosting this summer. The city-wide event included a colourful parade through the town centre and culminated in a concert featuring Marc Almond, formerly one half of English synthpop duo Soft Cell. In the photographs below, take a look at some of the highlights from UK Pride.
Hull’s LGBT+ history
Hull 2017 teamed up with Duckie, an arts collective that describes itself as “a post-gay independent arts outfit”, to delve into Hull’s LGBT+ history. E-J Scott, Duckie’s heritage researcher, came to Hull to help explore this history and build an archive for future generations, gathering oral testimonies, photographs and printed material. In the video below, he talks about what he has found so far, introducing the local queer performers and celebrities that form an integral part of Hull’s culture and history.
