London,
03
August
2017
|
10:06
Europe/London

Mayor of Camden marks 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act 1967

On Thursday 27 July, the Mayor of Camden invited councillors and residents to a special event in the council chamber to mark the 50 years since the Sexual Offences Act and the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

The evening was a celebration of LGBT+ rights and Camden’s long history of being open and supportive. The event included keynote speakers who reflected on how far society has come, and how far it still has to go.

Speakers included Councillor Angela Mason the former director of LGBT lobbying organisation Stonewall, LGBT activist and academic Jeffrey Weekes, Jenny Wildeblood relative of Peter Wildeblood, and Leslie Smith, an 88 year old man who remembers first-hand what life was like before the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

The event also included poetry readings from LGBT Poet Laureate Trudy Howson, and a performance from drag artist Lana P.

The mayor said: “The Sexual Offences Act 1967 was a milestone along a rocky road to greater equality and acceptance of sexual minorities. I was therefore delighted to mark the 50th anniversary in a way which celebrated the rich diversity of the LGBT communities and pays tribute to those brave campaigners whose courage led to greater freedom for subsequent generations”

“I would like to thank all the speakers and performers who made the event such a success and the staff of the Mayor’s Office for their hard work”.