Watching the Watchers: How Local Councils Built a Digital Panopticon Around Us

19/11/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Watching the Watchers – Across the UK – and very much here in Northern Ireland – local authorities have quietly stepped into the age of digital surveillance. Not the big dramatic kind you see in spy films, but the softer, subtler monitoring that sits inside policies, software dashboards, CCTV networks and—yes—your social media feeds.

Academics call it the “Digital Panopticon.” I’d describe it as the uncomfortable feeling that someone is always looking over your shoulder… even when you can’t quite see them.

Where Surveillance Starts: Local Councils and Their Quiet Powers

Thanks to legislation like RIPA, councils can monitor social media, gather “open-source intelligence,” install CCTV, and conduct covert surveillance under certain conditions.

In theory, it’s about fraud prevention or tackling antisocial behaviour. In practice? We’ve seen repeated warnings from regulators that councils are drifting into legally murky territory—especially when they monitor individuals’ posts over time without proper authorisation or oversight.

Audit after audit says the same thing: too much power, not enough training, and an alarming lack of accountability. It’s a fragile mix.

Northern Ireland: A Landscape Already Marked by Surveillance

If anywhere understands the shadow of surveillance, it’s Northern Ireland.

From decades of conflict to decades of social conservatism, LGBTQ+ people here have long been on the receiving end of institutional scrutiny. Stories of individuals being pressured, blackmailed, or harassed are woven through our community history—not ancient history either, but within living memory.

Today, the technology has changed, but the dynamics haven’t shifted as far as some would like to believe.

When councils enforce policies in ways that disproportionately disadvantage LGBTQ+ people—such as recent controversies in local leisure facilities—it reminds us how quickly old patterns reappear under new branding.

Where LGBTQ+ Communities Get Caught in the Net

Surveillance isn’t always about someone following you down the street. Often, it’s about being invisible in the data until suddenly you’re not.

Across England and Northern Ireland, multiple councils admit that they don’t systematically record LGBTQ+ experiences—especially around hate crime, safety, and local service needs. And when they do ask for information, the requests can be intrusive, poorly designed, or non-confidential.

We’ve seen mandatory forms demanding gender identity and sexual orientation, with no explanation of how the data is stored or who sees it. That isn’t inclusion—it’s a risk.

For trans and non-binary people, these risks multiply. Bad policy can mean losing privacy, safety, dignity, or access to essential services. A mis-ticked box can become a weapon.

Resistance, Advocacy, and the Push for Transparency

LGBTQ+ organisations have been pushing back, and thankfully not quietly.

We see training programmes for councils, community-led action plans, and sustained pressure for equality-proofing policies—especially where surveillance technologies intersect with human rights.

Lots of local authorities like to brand themselves “inclusive” or “progressive.” The real test is whether their systems respect our privacy and protect our community instead of monitoring us into silence.

Links:

Panopticon Blog – surveillance and digital oversight in local governance
https://panopticonblog.com/tag/surveillance/page/2/
Resisting government rendered surveillance in a local UK context
https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/621818/3/Resisting%20government%20surveillance%20(1).pdf
The Panoptic Principle: Privacy and Surveillance in the Public Sphere
https://stax.strath.ac.uk/downloads/7h149q19j
The Benefits Panopticon (Container Magazine analysis)
https://containermagazine.co.uk/the-benefits-panopticon/
History of the UK Regulators’ concerns regarding Local Authority Surveillance
http://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3531/history-uk-regulators-concerns-regarding-local-authority-use-social-media-monitor
BBC News: Equality Commission to publish guidance on Supreme Court ruling
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5q4g7zym3o
LGBT Foundation: Community Safety and Surveillance
https://lgbt.foundation/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Community20Safety.pdf
New CCTV Code of Practice: surveillance and the protection of freedoms
https://panopticonblog.com/2013/06/17/new-cctv-code-of-practice-surveillance-and-the-protection-of-freedoms/
PeaceRep: Gender Violence in Conflict – Neglect of LGBT Security
https://peacerep.org/2019/01/22/lgbt-security/
Equality Framework for Local Government (UK government best practice)
https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/equalities-hub/equality-framework-local-government
Big Brother Watch: State of Surveillance Report 2023
https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/State-of-Surveillance-Report-23.pdf
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Local Councils – Case Studies
https://lgsc.org.uk/assets/documents/Equality-Diversity-and-Inclusion-in-Local-Councils-Case-Studies.PDF
Reddit: Local Authority requires gender identity and address on all surveys (community discussion)
https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1kejmdk/local_authority_requires_gender_identity_and/
ScienceDirect: Panoptical vs Synoptical Approaches to Monitoring
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045235413000282
Northern Ireland: Public Opinion Survey of Equality
https://www.equalityni.org/ECNI/media/ECNI/Publications/Delivering%20Equality/PublicOpinionSurvey-Spring2023.pdf
UK Government LGBT Action Plan
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b39e91ee5274a0bbef01fd5/GEO-LGBT-Action-Plan.pdf
Northern Ireland Policing Board: Through Our Eyes
https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/files/nipolicingboard/media-files/through-our-eyes_0.pdf
NSPCC Learning: Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/lgbtq-children-young-people
Equality Screening Template – Your Say Belfast
https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/27914/widgets/79959/documents/48670
East Sussex Council: Help shape local services for LGBTQ+ groups
https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/public-health/lgbtq-nee
Surveillance and Big Brother

The Digital Panopticon only works if nobody challenges it. And challenge it we must.

Final Thought

Surveillance isn’t just about cameras or algorithms. It’s about power.
Who holds it, who uses it, and who ends up exposed.

For LGBTQ+ people in the UK, and especially in Northern Ireland, the digital age has not erased old inequalities—it has simply digitised them.

To build safer, more equal communities, we need continuous scrutiny, louder advocacy, and a refusal to let “modernisation” become an excuse for marginalisation.

LGBTQ+ Youth and Bullying

12/11/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Why UK Schools Are Still Failing LGBTQ+ Students

The statistics are damning. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth in the UK have experienced bullying or discrimination at school because of their sexual orientation, while a quarter face the same treatment due to their gender identity. But here’s the truly shocking part: half of those bullied never report it, and when they do, 72% say staff responded badly.

We’re not talking about ancient history here. This is 2024. This is happening now, in supposedly progressive Britain, in schools where equality policies exist on paper but crumble in practice.

The consequences are catastrophic. New research suggests nearly a quarter of LGBTQ+ students in the UK don’t complete secondary school – double the national dropout rate. That’s not just a statistic. That’s hundreds of thousands of young people whose education, and potentially their entire futures, are being derailed by prejudice.

What’s particularly infuriating is how predictable this all is. Students report being verbally abused, harassed online, physically assaulted, and deliberately misgendered. Some are locked in toilets. Others are so terrified that they deliberately dehydrate themselves to avoid using school bathrooms. Teachers turn a blind eye or, worse, actively participate in the abuse.

The pattern is clear: schools respond reactively rather than proactively. They slap on plasters when someone complains rather than addressing the underlying culture of homophobia. Only half of LGBTQ+ pupils say their schools explicitly state that homophobic bullying is wrong. That means half of the schools won’t even do the bare minimum.

Here’s what needs to happen. Schools must move beyond passive “we don’t tolerate bullying” statements. They need comprehensive anti-bullying policies that explicitly protect LGBTQ+ students, proper training for staff on conflict resolution and LGBTQ+ issues, and anonymous reporting systems so students can seek help without fear.

But more fundamentally, we need to change school culture. In schools where homophobic language is rarely heard, only 37% of gay pupils are bullied, compared to 68% in schools where such language is common. Language matters. Casual homophobia – using “gay” as an insult – creates the environment where serious bullying thrives.

Every LGBTQ+ student who drops out, self-harms, or worse is a failure of the system that’s meant to protect them. These aren’t inevitable tragedies. They’re preventable if we’re willing to do more than pay lip service to equality. The question is: are we?

Bullying - Call To Action

#LGBTQBullying #UKSchools #StopBullying #LGBTQYouth #EducationEquality #SchoolSafety #InclusiveEducation #AntiBullying #LGBTQRights #StudentWelfare

Links:

Here are the top 5 external links for this article:

Attack on Libraries Should Terrify Us All

27/10/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Attack on Libraries – When I think about libraries, I think about freedom. Not the abstract, flag-waving kind—but the real, tangible freedom to walk into a room and discover ideas that might change your life. The freedom to read without someone looking over your shoulder, deciding what you’re allowed to know.

That freedom is under attack in America right now. And what’s happening there should be a wake-up call for the rest of us.

Book Banning Has Gone From Rare to Epidemic

Here’s a stat that should stop you in your tracks: between 2001 and 2020, an average of 273 book titles were challenged in US libraries each year. In 2023 alone? Over 9,000 titles were targeted. That’s not a trend—it’s an avalanche.

We’re not talking about obscure edge cases. Books by Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Judy Blume are being pulled from shelves. A graphic novel about the Holocaust was banned in Tennessee. Even a children’s book about seahorses faced removal because—wait for it—it showed them mating.

The targets are predictable: anything involving LGBTQ+ themes (39% of challenged titles in 2024), books about race and racial justice, and materials related to sex education. But the scale is what’s new. This is no longer scattered local outrage. It’s organised, well-funded, and strategic.

It’s Not Grassroots—It’s Astroturfed

Groups like Moms for Liberty—which sounds wholesome enough—are actually connected to extremist organisations like the Proud Boys and QAnon conspiracy theorists. They’ve systematically taken over local library boards, using social media to manufacture outrage and fund candidates who’ll do their bidding.

One of the Proud Boys’ leaders literally called Moms for Liberty “the Gestapo with vaginas.” When fascists are giving you compliments, you might want to reconsider your strategy.

Librarians are facing death threats for doing their jobs. Amanda Jones, a Louisiana school librarian, spoke out against book banning at a board meeting. She was immediately accused of grooming children and received such terrifying threats that she now sleeps with a shotgun under her bed. Think about that—a school librarian needs weapons to feel safe because she defends books.

Trump’s Making It Official Policy

Things escalated dramatically when Trump returned to office. In February 2025, Dr. Colleen Shogan—the head of the US National Archives—was fired without explanation. In May, Dr Carla Hayden, the brilliant librarian of Congress, got an email: “Your position is terminated effective immediately.”

Her replacement? Todd Blanche—Trump’s lawyer from the Stormy Daniels case. That’s right: America replaced one of the world’s most accomplished librarians with a defence attorney. The symbolism couldn’t be clearer.

Meanwhile, government datasets are being scrubbed from websites. Environmental data, public health information, disease control statistics—all disappearing down the memory hole. Volunteer librarians are racing to save what they can, but established institutions need to step up and host this rescued data before it’s lost forever.

Why “Just Books” Matters More Than You Think

There’s a quote from philosopher Jacques Derrida that sums this up: “There is no political power without power over the archive.” Whoever controls what gets remembered—what gets preserved, what’s accessible—controls the narrative. They control history itself.

When a Florida judge ruled that public libraries are “government speech” and citizens have no First Amendment right to access books there, it wasn’t just about books anymore. It was about whether we’re allowed to think independently of what the government wants us to think.

It’s Already Crossing the Atlantic

Don’t think this is just an American problem. In Ireland, groups modelled directly on Moms for Liberty are targeting libraries with the same playbook. In the UK, 82% of librarians reported increased pressure to remove books in 2023, especially LGBTQ+ titles.

This August, a mob firebombed Spellow library in Liverpool because it served immigrant communities. A Reform UK councillor in Kent boasted about ordering the removal of “trans-ideological material” from children’s sections—material that didn’t even exist.

The tactics are spreading, and underfunded UK libraries are vulnerable.

What We Need to Do

Libraries have been the “pristine brand” of civic institutions for generations—universally trusted, politically neutral spaces. That brand is being deliberately tarnished, and we can’t let it happen.

We need to fund libraries properly, support librarians who face harassment, and push back loudly when books are targeted. We need to remember that free people read freely—and that freedom isn’t free if someone else decides what you’re allowed to know.

As Helen Keller wrote in 1933, when the Nazis were burning books: “You may burn my books and the books of the best minds in Europe, but the ideas those books contain have passed through millions of channels and will go on.”

Ideas are resilient. But they need defenders. Libraries aren’t just buildings with books—they’re the hidden infrastructure of democracy itself.

Links:

#FreedomToRead
#StopBookBans
#DefendLibraries
#NoToCensorship
#ReadingIsResistance

Impact of Book Bans on the LGBTQI+ Community in the UK

20/06/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Impact of Book Bans on the LGBTQI+ Community in the UK

Overview

In the UK, the issue of censorship and banned books targeting LGBTQI+ content is increasingly making headlines. While outright bans are less widespread than in some countries, recent developments highlight a concerning trend that affects young people, educators, and the broader community. These restrictions threaten access to vital stories and resources that support LGBTQI+ identities and well-being[1][2][3].

Key Effects

1. Mental Health and Wellbeing

– Increased Isolation: When LGBTQI+ books are removed from school libraries and classrooms, it sends a damaging message to young people that their identities are unwelcome or invalid. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and invisibility[1][2][3].

– Fear and Self-Censorship: Librarians and teachers often report feeling pressured or intimidated into removing LGBTQI+ literature, which results in self-censorship and limits access for students seeking representation[1][2].

– Loss of Support: Many young people rely on inclusive literature to see themselves reflected and to find reassurance. Banning these resources can harm their mental health, self-esteem, and sense of belonging[1][3].

2. Erasure of Identity and Representation

– Reduced Visibility: Censorship efforts diminish the presence of LGBTQI+ stories, history, and voices within educational environments, making it harder for young people to explore and understand their identities[1][2][3].

– Barriers to Understanding: Without access to diverse narratives, both LGBTQI+ youth and their peers miss opportunities to learn about different experiences, fostering ignorance and prejudice[1][2].

3. Societal and Educational Consequences

– Cultivating Intolerance: Targeted bans reinforce harmful stereotypes and can foster a climate of hostility, bullying, and intolerance within schools and local communities[1][2][3].

– Risks for Librarians and Educators: Those who resist censorship often face professional repercussions, including threats, job loss, or disciplinary action, discouraging the inclusion of LGBTQI+ materials[1][2].

– Chilling Effect: The absence of clear national guidance creates a climate of uncertainty, leading many librarians to avoid purchasing or displaying LGBTQI+ books altogether to prevent controversy[1][2][3].

Data and Trends

| Statistic/Trend | Source |
|———————————————————————————|————-|
| Over half (around 53%) of UK school librarians surveyed report being asked to remove books or being given a list of banned books, with many titles related to LGBTQI+ themes. | [1][2][3] |
| Requests for removal are primarily initiated by individual parents or community members, rather than official government directives, but they have a significant impact. | [1][2][3] |
| Commonly targeted titles include *This Book Is Gay* by Juno Dawson, *Julián is a Mermaid* by Jessica Love, and *ABC Pride* by Louie Stowell et al. | [2][3][4] |
| Many librarians have been instructed to remove all LGBTQI+ books after a single complaint; some have faced job insecurity for refusing. | [1][2][3] |
| There is no comprehensive UK database tracking the full scope of bans, but anecdotal evidence suggests the trend is growing. | [1][2][5] |

Voices from the Community

– Stonewall, the UK’s leading LGBTQI+ rights organisation, has called the increasing censorship “deeply troubling,” emphasising that access to inclusive resources is essential for young people’s well-being and self-acceptance[3].

– Many librarians and teachers express feeling unsupported and vulnerable. Some have resorted to discreet or off-the-record loans to ensure students can access banned books, despite risks[1][2][3].

Conclusion

The rising tide of book bans targeting LGBTQI+ content in the UK is having serious repercussions for young people and the wider community. These measures foster exclusion, erasure, and fear, undermining the vital educational and emotional support that diverse literature provides. Without clear guidance and backing from national authorities, many educators feel compelled to self-censor, further limiting access to inclusive stories. Advocacy organisations like Stonewall and professional bodies must continue to push for policies that safeguard the right to inclusive education and ensure every young person can see themselves reflected positively in the books they read[1][2][3].

—

References:
1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lgbt-books-removed-uk-libraries-b2732791.html
2. https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/08/banned-school-librarians-shushed-over-lgbt-books/
3. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lgbt-books-ban-uk-schools-library-b2596374.html
4. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/school-libraries-censored-as-survey-reveals-28-librarians-asked-to-remove-books-from-shelves
5. https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/school-blog/censorship-more-than-half-of-school-librarians-asked-to-remove-books-from-their-shelves-6430

Links:

Queer spaces are something which our community in Northern Ireland is loosing memory about. When I first came out on the scene, there were at least 42 different event nights encompassing at least 20 different venues. Today, there are many fewer, and with that comes less choice. So far, I have written one in-depth article about ‘The Carpenter Club“, I am now about to start one on Delaney’s, so if you have any thoughts, news, titbits, pics that would be of use, please let me have them.

The Lavender Scare Revisited

19/06/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Lavender Scare

The Lavender Scare serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals and the profound impact it can have on lives and civil rights. While the UK has made notable progress since the deeply ingrained stigma of the mid-20th century, ongoing advocacy and awareness remain vital to achieving true equality and acceptance. Understanding this historical context is essential for recognising how far we’ve come and the work still ahead to fully support LGBTQI+ rights and inclusion.

The “Lavender Scare” describes a dark chapter in mid-20th-century history, mainly from the late 1940s through the 1960s, when gay men and lesbians working in the US federal government faced widespread dismissal and forced resignation because of their sexuality. This period of repression was closely linked to anti-communist fears and congressional investigations, which falsely painted LGBTQ+ individuals as security threats and potential communist sympathisers.

Key lessons from the Lavender Scare include:

Perception of vulnerability: Homosexuality was heavily stigmatised, with the false belief that LGBTQ+ individuals were susceptible to blackmail, risking national security.
Anti-communist parallels: This era coincided with the Red Scare and McCarthyism, where suspicion of communist ties led to widespread suspicion and persecution.
Dismissals and forced resignations: Many federal employees were fired or compelled to leave their jobs solely based on their sexual orientation.
Absence of legal protections: There were no laws safeguarding against discrimination based on sexual orientation during this time.
Social isolation and stigma: Many affected individuals faced profound social rejection and lived in fear and silence.
Impact on civil rights: The Lavender Scare fueled the broader fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights, highlighting the need for equality.
Legal progress: Over time, legal battles and court rulings began to challenge and curb federal discrimination, laying the groundwork for future protections.

Reflecting on this history underscores both the resilience of the LGBTQI+ community and the ongoing necessity of activism and awareness to protect and advance their rights today.

Links:

Gay history – Kate Hoey speech

27/01/2025 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

May 11, 2023, Baroness Hoey’s amendment on gay history did not connect with the Lords!

Sadly none of the gay peers offered to help Kate go to a vote on her amendment so she didn’t press for a division.

It would have been great watching the progressive peers in turmoil wondering whether to vote for or against a gay matter.

There was also zero interest in intersectional circles in Belfast and the BBC was unusually mute on her amendment despite their gay staffers.

…

Gay history amendment draft remarks for Baroness Hoey submitted by Jeff Dudgeon

My second amendment, number 118 to Clause 46, refers to the Bill’s required production of
an analysis of patterns and themes in events during the Troubles. It adds to the specific
mention of women and girls, research on the experience of the gay and lesbian community.
This is a small minority, just 2% of our people according to the recent census figure, but it
figured centrally in disputes and debates throughout the decades, perhaps more so than any
other group outside the two main communities.
The process from decriminalisation to now gay equality was effected in a long series of
legislative steps, always at Westminster.
I played, as I said at Committee, a small part in 1994 with an amendment to keep Northern
Ireland in line with the rest of Britain on the gay age of consent. Tony Blair, who was then
Shadow Home Secretary, helped me whip sufficient support from MPs across the parties,
enabling my amendment to win by 254 votes to 141.
The particular reason why the gay community’s experience needs addressing is that it
suffered, as we all did, from death and injury through killings, bombings and shootings by
illegal organisations. But it then had, separately, to face those organisations when they
brought further death and destruction – specifically to the gay community.
That even occurred after the 1995 ceasefires, in the case of a police officer, who was
murdered by the INLA in 1997 and the Reverend David Templeton by the UVF, both in 1997.
Their killings followed a series of bombings of gay venues over thirty years by the IRA and
loyalist paramilitaries, and of murders of gay men – often picked off the street – especially in
the darkest days of the 1970s.
I note for the record Strasbourg is not calling for reinvestigation in these cases.
Academic research can provide not just a record of those events but a valuable analysis of
how life amidst death was experienced.
I sincerely hope that the Minister will look favourably on the matter and provide more
reassurance than at Committee when he said, “The provisions of the Bill as drafted would not
preclude relevant research into LGBT experiences.”
Inclusion is needed not a lack of precluding such research.
Indeed if the NIO is requiring in draft regulations – as it is this month – that our schools
update their teaching on sexuality, it seems necessary and consistent for this amendment to
go into the Bill.

END

Links:

Why the LGBTQ+ Community Should Be Cautious of Data Collection

08/10/2024 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

The LGBTQ+ community has a historical reason for being cautious of data collection. Here are some key factors:

Historical Discrimination: Throughout history, data has been used to target and discriminate against marginalized groups. This includes the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in various societies.
Privacy Concerns: Data collection can pose significant privacy risks. Misuse of personal information can lead to discrimination, harassment, or even violence.
Lack of Trust: Given historical and ongoing discrimination, many LGBTQ+ individuals may have difficulty trusting institutions or individuals collecting their data.
Potential for Misuse: Data can be used to reinforce stereotypes, justify discrimination, or even inform harmful policies.
Limited Control: Once data is collected, individuals may have limited control over how it is used or shared.

It’s important to note that not all data collection is harmful. When done ethically and transparently, data can be used to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, improve services, and promote understanding. However, it’s crucial for individuals to be aware of the potential risks and to exercise caution when sharing personal information.

“Empower yourself and the LGBTQ+ community by staying informed about data privacy.

Share this article to raise awareness and advocate for safe data practices!”

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Postal Workers Suspended for Refusing to Deliver Anti-Trans Flyers

24/09/2024 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Postal Workers Suspended in New Brunswick, Canada. Two postal workers from Canada Post have been suspended for refusing to deliver controversial flyers from Campaign Life Coalition that call for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The incident has raised significant concerns about the implications of such materials being distributed in the lead-up to the province’s upcoming October 21 election.

The flyers describe gender-affirming medical procedures in derogatory terms, referring to them as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” Additionally, the flyers state that “God doesn’t make mistakes.” Shannon Aitchison, a Canada Post carrier and union representative who has a transgender child, explained her objection to delivering the materials: “The third flyer was straight-up nonsense,” she told the *Brantford Expositor*. “’ God doesn’t make mistakes,’ so you’re telling me my child is a mistake?”

Five postal workers in the Saint John area chose to refuse delivery of the flyers. While two workers were suspended, others opted to take personal days to avoid handling the controversial materials.

Canada Post has defended its decision, asserting that the flyers did not meet the legal definition of a “non-mailable matter,” and therefore, must be delivered. “Our important and longstanding role in delivering the country’s mail should not be seen as tolerance or support for the contents of any mailing,” stated Canada Post spokesperson Valérie Chartrand. “We are a neutral third party regardless of our views.”

Moreover, *CBC* reported on August 26 that Campaign Life Coalition has distributed similar flyers across New Brunswick to support Premier Blaine Higgs’ “parental rights” policies. These policies, which echo far-right measures seen in parts of the United States, mandate that teachers obtain parental consent before using a student’s chosen name or pronouns for students under 16.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the debate over gender-affirming care and the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly minors, during a politically charged election season.

In the UK it would appear that the British public’s stand on transgender rights; a new YouGov study, the third, and most expansive in a series from 2018, shows evidence of an overall gradual erosion in support towards transgender rights. But even LGBT Rights did not have an easy ride during its travel toward acceptance:

e.g.

During the Pre-20th Century:

Homosexuality was criminalized in the UK during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Buggery Act of 1533 made sodomy a capital offense, and subsequent laws further criminalized homosexual acts.

Decriminalisation:

The Sexual Offences Act 1967 partially decriminalised homosexuality for men over 21 in private. However, discrimination and prejudice persisted.

The 1980s – Rise of Activism:

The 1980s saw the emergence of LGBT+ activism, notably with the founding of organizations like Stonewall, (check out their website for more information about Stonewall). The HIV/AIDS epidemic brought attention to LGBT+ issues and led to increased activism and solidarity.

Section 28:

In 1988, Section 28 was introduced, prohibiting the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools. It was a highly controversial and damaging policy.

(The History of LGBT+ Rights in the UK (Union of Students) by Holly Lloyd)

Links: