Attitudes to homosexuality and bisexuality in modern Britain
There was once a time in Britain’s history not too long ago when being involved in a sexual relationship with the same sex was a criminal offence and usually consisted of a hefty fine or even a prison sentence. The concept of homosexuality or bisexuality in Britain was mostly taboo, rarely discussed in the public sphere and often frowned upon by the majority. However, during the cultural revolution of the 1960s, a new dawn of social change emerged, sparking the beginning of a newfound recognition of the struggle for gay rights both in Britain and in other western nations. Over time, gay legal rights in Britain have transformed – starting from the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales was decriminalized in 1967, to the introduction of an equal age of consent for both heterosexual and homosexual relationships in 1998, to the recent introduction of Civil Partnerships and same-sex adoption rights in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Attitudes to same-sex relations in Britain have also transformed, with the majority of Britons asserting that homosexuality is ‘never immoral’ in a recent Social Attitudes Survey conducted by the government in 2008. The role of gay and bisexual individuals in the media is a testament to Britain’s growing tolerance and acceptance of same-sex relations, with famous openly gay celebrities such as Dale Winton, Clare Balding, Will Young, Graham Norton and Jane Hill and politicians such as Nick Herbert and Sir Peter Mandelson, among others.
However, while much progress has been made, homophobia is still apparent in some sections of society, just like in any country. Homophobic abuse in schools is an issue that the British government has been trying to tackle for years but to this day it remains a major problem on many of Britain’s playgrounds. Gay and bisexual pupils may often face verbal and physical abuse, which can lead to depression and helplessness at a time when exam pressure and being a teenager is challenging enough. It is essential that Britain’s government and schools enact harsher tough punishments to perpetrators of homophobic abuse so that gay and lesbian students can suceed to the best of their abilities in the adult world.
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