It Was 50 Years Ago Today…

… That the Wolfenden Report on homosexual offences and prostitution was published in Britain*. While it recommended that homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence, it was to be a further ten years before the law was changed to reflect this. I see that the BBC is commemorating the anniversary with a week of broadcasts relating to gay lives. On Wednesday, for example, BBC Four will be broadcasting Consenting Adults, a play about the Wolfenden Report and the people involved in it. Should be worth watching. Today’s Guardian also has an article by the playwright about it. 

 

* Some sources quote the date of publication as 4th September 1957.