Don’t Say Gay...in the UK? By Mitch Robinson
Did you know the UK had its own ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill?
2023 was the twentieth anniversary of the repeal of section 28 - the much hated legislation which prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality… as a pretended family relationship.’ The 15 years during which section 28 was in action had an enormous negative impact on LGBTQIA+ people.
I was in education during this period and, looking back, can see the impact this had on me - the silence, the fear, the isolation. I also now see that some people bravely pushed back.
Section 28 banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in English schools for 15 years between 1988 and 2003 with huge impact.
If you have memories of this time; perhaps you were in school, or were teaching, or protested section 28… then I would love to hear from you.
Please get in contact here if you would like to share your story. The aim of this project is to exhibit these interviews later in the year, so please only get in touch if you're happy for your story to be shared publicly (you will, of course, be able to remain annonymous if you would prefer).