Northern Ireland's gay sex ban was stck down 40 years ago

Contents:

• NORTHERN IRELAND GAY RIGHTS ASSOCIATN
• IT’S BEEN 40 YEARS SCE NORTHERN IRELAND’S HUMANISG GAY SEX BAN WAS FALLY STCK DOWN
• TAG: NORTHERN IRELAND GAY RIGHTS ASSOCIATN
• PRI MARCHERS MOCK ANTI-GAY MP
• LGBT HISTORY MONTH: GAY RIGHTS BELFAST AND BEYOND BY EMMA REISZ, NADE GILMORE AND TOM HULME
• NI GAYS SEEK HARMONISATN
• PRI: THE STORY BEHD HOW BELFAST'S FIRST EVER GAY RIGHTS PARA ME ABOUT 1991
• GAY ASSOCIATN WEL BELFAST CY HALL MOVE
• ANTI-GAY LEAFLET DISMISSED AS 'LGHABLE'

NORTHERN IRELAND GAY RIGHTS ASSOCIATN

Contt tails for the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Associatn, a leadg Northern Ireland anisatn dited to enhancg the life of LGBT people here and human rights advocy for those who experience discrimatn or abe on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientatn, genr inty or exprsn. The Northern Ireland Gay Rights Associatn (NIGRA) is an anisatn mpaigng for the rights of LGBT people Northern Ireland. NIGRA was formed 1975, and ially ncentrated on mpaigng for gay male sex to be crimalised, as had been done England and Wal by the Sexual Offenc Act 1967.

IT’S BEEN 40 YEARS SCE NORTHERN IRELAND’S HUMANISG GAY SEX BAN WAS FALLY STCK DOWN

In the end the European Court of Human Rights forced the UK ernment to pass the Homosexual Offenc (Northern Ireland) Orr 1982, which crimalised sex between men over 18. It is 40 years sce the European Court of Human Rights livered s landmark lg that ultimately stck down Northern Ireland’s humanisg ban on homosexualy.

In 1967, homosexualy was partially crimalised England and Wal wh the Sexual Offence Act.

TAG: NORTHERN IRELAND GAY RIGHTS ASSOCIATN

When beme clear that the partial crimalisatn of homosexualy would not be extend to Northern Ireland, queer people the regn rose up. The secretary of state ially appeared sympathetic to the e of gay rights activists Northern Ireland. That lg me wh a ccial veat, however: the mtee said there appeared to be limed support for change to laws around homosexualy Northern Ireland.

The UK ernment tried to move forward wh the partial crimalisatn of homosexualy Northern Ireland followg that remendatn – however, efforts stalled when beme clear that none of the 12 MPs for the terrory were willg to support change. Those volved the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Associatn (NIGRA) fought tirelsly for the law to be changed as police arrted them, forced them to unrgo humanisg medil exams and raid their hoe. Paisley, a reverend wh the Free Prbyterian Church, was termed that the law should not be changed to grant gay people the rights and eedoms they so sperately craved.

PRI MARCHERS MOCK ANTI-GAY MP

The ernment promised that laws would not be enforced, but gay people ntued to face persecutn and harassment om the police. He was also a gay rights activist and a member of NIGRA when he was arrted on dg charg 1976. Police disvered personal rrponnc sent by him which he tailed gay sex acts he had taken part , and jt like that, his se was transformed to an anti-gay wch hunt.

LGBT HISTORY MONTH: GAY RIGHTS BELFAST AND BEYOND BY EMMA REISZ, NADE GILMORE AND TOM HULME

Dudgeon brought a se to the European Commissn of Human Rights argug that Northern Ireland’s ban on homosexualy was unlawful. He said the laws crimalisg homosexualy terfered wh his right to a private life and was vlatn of Article 8 of the European Conventn on Human Rights. It also found that the law vlated the European Conventn on Human Rights as prevented gay people om exercisg their right to a private life.

The Rabow Project, a Belfast-based LGBT+ chary, marked the 40th anniversary of the crimalisatn of homosexualy by drawg attentn to the areas where change is still need. Fears of vlence, timidatn and harassment rema a realy for many lbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, tersex and asexual people across Northern Ireland and beyond. We see how the same twisted msag which were ed to nmn gay people and ce fear of our muny are beg ed to target trans/non-bary people, qutng their existence and ignorg their lived experienc.

It nsisted of the Belfast Gay Liberatn Society ( orig a stunt society Queen’s Universy, Belfast) Sappho rears’ groups Belfast, Colerae, Craigavon, Derry/Londonrry, and other plac, the NI Council on Relign and Homosexualy (NICRH), then n om Portadown, ( later beme the Gay Christian Fellowship, and is now Outlook). There was also the 1974 Homosexual Law Reform Commtee, and a group for Transvt and Transsexuals (n om Bangor/Newtownards).

NI GAYS SEEK HARMONISATN

‘Gay Rights’ was taken to mean the rights of anyone opprsed on acunt of their – actual or imputed – sexualy. The ma thst of NIGRA’s mpaigng activi was the mand that those elements of the 1967 Sexual Offenc Act, crimalisg certa male [homo]sexual activi England and Wal be extend to Northern Ireland. This judgement of the ECHR laid down a Europe-wi norm on the matter of the right to privacy of gay men, and by implitn, of all gay people (and, ed, of all cizens, irrpective of their sexualy).

This rced the male homosexual age of nsent om 21 to 18, the latter beg a “promise” age, stoppg short of equaly at 16. Over the years we have exposed the hostile attu of the urts to gay women and men.

PRI: THE STORY BEHD HOW BELFAST'S FIRST EVER GAY RIGHTS PARA ME ABOUT 1991

The e of the ‘Portsmouth Defence’ (also known as the ‘homosexual panic’ fence), has been exposed by and been the object of prolonged mpaigng work wh the police and prosecutn servic. Over the years we have veloped relatns wh them and also provid a trag urse for police ts on gay sensibili. We have also actively challenged the police force when necsary if was and is felt that they have been heavy hand or back-pedalled what is obvly a ath wh a gay overtone.

NIGRA has also helped provi a public space for gay people, by anisg entertaments like diss, and social and cultural events.

GAY ASSOCIATN WEL BELFAST CY HALL MOVE

We have published material for gay people and about gay life, for our muny general tert magaz, and appeared on, facilated, or even ma, rad and televisn programm aimed at the general public. We also have a number of ongog mpaigns, one of which is the ‘Accs to Material In Librari for the Gay Communy’. “I suppose I knew I was gay or that somethg was up so to speak, I was about 14-15 and fought agast for a while.

The murr of a lleague forc a Police Sergeant to nont the attus of the police to the gay muny Belfast. Iris Robson, the Democratic Unnist MP who believ homosexualy n be cured by psychiatry, ma a 'gut' appearance at yterday's annual Gay Pri para Strangford MP appeared the 'guise' of several marchers wearg Iris masks what turned out to be Northern Ireland's largt Pri rally for years.

The para took place a cy labelled the most homophobic place the UK or Ireland. Organisers claimed the large turn-out was rponse to the ntroversy stirred up by the DUP MP, who recently also likened gay sex to child abe.

ANTI-GAY LEAFLET DISMISSED AS 'LGHABLE'

Her remarks prompted one anisatn to bee the first Christian gay group to march the Belfast para.

Changg Attu Ireland, a new anisatn reprentg gay Christians throughout the island, said they had cid to jo Pri rponse to the MP's remarks. 'This is the first time our banner has been displayed at Pri Belfast bee was important to crease our visibily and to show people that there are alternative Christian views than those poed by Iris Robson, ' said a retired Church of Ireland mister, the Rev Mervyn said there was growg support wh the Church of Ireland for equaly for gay people si the Anglin Communn.