Campaigning for Change: LGBT+ Activism 1970s & 80s

The resource uses campaign material from the 1970s and 1980s in the Hall Carpenter Archives at LSE Library. The primary material is used to help explain terminology and introduce different forms of activism that helped change legislation as well as social and religious attitudes towards sexuality and same-sex relationships in Britain.

This draws on material from activism carried out by members of The Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), OutRage! and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in the 1970s and 80s. A list of further reading and links to further resources, including digitised content, is available at the end of these notes.

It covers the following curriculum topics and areas:

RSE – Same Sex Relationships and Sexuality: tolerance towards others, how freedoms have come about in the UK, freedom of expression, campaigns for equality, positive relationships and an understanding of stereotypes.

Citizenship – British Values: this reinforces tolerance around sexuality, how people form identity and how LGBTQIA people won rights in Britain.

GCSE Religious Studies (AQA & OCR) – Relationships and Families: sexuality, homosexual relationships, same-sex marriage and co-habitation, same-sex parents. A Christian faith perspective that is positive around same-sex marriage and relationships.