Disregarding the Past: The Problems of Pardoning Homosexual Offences

Ahead of this evening’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, the speaker from the previous session in collaboration with the History of Sexuality seminar, Dr Justin Bengry, Director of the Centre for Queer History at Goldsmiths, University of London, summarises the issues raised in his paper about the pardoning of historical homosexual offences. In June 2015 I was approached by filmmaker Rosemarie Reed who was … Continue reading Disregarding the Past: The Problems of Pardoning Homosexual Offences

sammysturgessOctober 22, 2019January 30, 2020Leave a comment

17th Century history, Early modern history, James I to Restoration, LGBTQ+ History, Social history

Sex in the Long Parliament

In our latest blog, Dr David Scott of the House of Commons 1640-1660 section looks at the extra-curricular activities of some Members of a supposedly puritan Parliament – at least according to newspaper reports… Sexual licence and parliamentary politics have always enjoyed an intimate relationship, and not even the great puritan preachers of the seventeenth century ( who regularly addressed assembled MPs in the adjacent … Continue reading Sex in the Long Parliament

larminievAugust 22, 2019January 30, 2020Leave a comment

19th Century history, 20th century history, Legal history, LGBTQ+ History, Post-1945 history

Legislating Homosexuality: Codification, Empire and the Commonwealth

The final blog in our trio for LGBT+ History Month comes from our Public Engagement Officer, Sammy Sturgess. She considers how nineteenth century legal reform in the British Empire impacted the regulation of homosexuality and its Commonwealth legacy… 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the Commonwealth so it seems appropriate to consider the legacy of British colonial-era legislation on Commonwealth nations. Specifically, given that it’s … Continue reading Legislating Homosexuality: Codification, Empire and the Commonwealth

sammysturgessFebruary 28, 2019January 30, 2020Leave a comment

19th Century history, Legal history, LGBTQ+ History, Social history

From celebrity to outcast: William Bankes MP (1786-1855)

Today’s blog is the second of three posts to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. In this blog we hear from Dr Philip Salmon, Editor of the House of Commons 1832-1868 project, about William Bankes who fled the country to avoid prosecution for homosexual offences … William Bankes was one of the most famous explorers of Regency England. A swashbuckling early 19th-century ‘Indiana Jones’, his discovery of … Continue reading From celebrity to outcast: William Bankes MP (1786-1855)

sammysturgessFebruary 26, 2019January 30, 20203 Comments

17th Century history, James I to Restoration, LGBTQ+ History, Royal family

James I and the duke of Buckingham: love, power and betrayal

Today is the first in a trio of blogs to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. Paul M. Hunneyball, Associate Editor of the House of Lords 1604-1629 project, kicks off with a sequel to his blog from last LGBTHM, ‘James I and his favourites: sex and power at the Jacobean Court’. In this new blog he explores the evolution of the duke of Buckingham’s position at court … Continue reading James I and the duke of Buckingham: love, power and betrayal

sammysturgessFebruary 21, 2019June 9, 202112 Comments

17th Century history, Early modern history, England and Scotland, James I to Restoration, LGBTQ+ History, Royal family

James I and his favourites: sex and power at the Jacobean court

As LGBT History Month draws to a close Dr Paul M. Hunneyball of the Lords 1604-1629 Section discusses the nature of relationships between James I and his favourite courtiers, his sexuality and how this affected his ability to maintain unquestionable dominance as the monarch… ‘James I slobbered at the mouth and had favourites; he was thus a Bad King.’ This line from Sellar and Yeatman’s … Continue reading James I and his favourites: sex and power at the Jacobean court

sammysturgessFebruary 27, 2018January 30, 20203 Comments

20th century history, Events, LGBTQ+ History, Oral history, Post-1945 history

50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, 1967

On 12 July 2017 we brought together parliamentarians, activists and historians to mark 50 years since the passing of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales. Here we report back from the event… We were delighted when the Speaker accepted our suggestion to organise an event in his official apartments to mark the anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of … Continue reading 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, 1967

The History of ParliamentJuly 26, 2017February 5, 2020Leave a comment

The History of Parliament

Blogging on parliament, politics and people, from the History of Parliament

Category: LGBTQ+ History