Gay Legal Issues

The fight for homosexual equality started off in the early 1950s where a leading politician considered legalising homosexual acts in the UK. By 1967 homosexual acts in private between two 21 year old adults was decriminalized in England and Wales. Scotland had to wait unitil the late 70s/early 80s before the law was ammended there.

The law was amended for homosexual consent age to 18 in 1994 and then 16 in 2000. In 2002 the law was amended again allowing Gay couples to adopt children and then in 2003 and 2004 the same sex amendment was discussed and amended, coming into affect December 2005.

When the law comes into effect it means legally Gay people can get married who will need ceremonies, parties etc which will need facilities. Many councils is the UK has refused to give the same facilities to Homosexuals to that of Heterosexual marriages on moral grounds. This is discrimination Gay activists have argued but current law states that ultimately the councils have the right to ban what they want.

One of the main reasons why it took a long time for same sex marriages to become legalised is the whole religious perspective of homosexuality. The church interprets the holy bible as stating that homosexuality is unnatural and immoral. But if you analyze or briefly look at the chapter and verses which supposedly declares homosexuality as a sin it really depends on your interpretation. Some versus actually can be interpreted that it is ok to be Gay. There is fierce debate in this subject which is a main arguing point for the anti-gay side.

In the UK, equal rights for Gay people is improving. Equal rights prevents discrimination at the work place, employment and more. At the end of this year, Gay people will legally be able to register their partnership, this could mean homosexuals being able to marry.

The Isle of Man is self governed but is part of the UK. On the island it is illegal to promote homosexuality in public and the age of homosexuals differs to that of heterosexuals. But in September 2005, the Isle of Man government is considering changing this law so in public homosexuals can express their sexuality and the age of consensual homosexuality to come in line with the European Community.

The UK has only recently been improving the laws, whilst in Holland and Denmark, Gay rights and anti-discrimination laws as long been in place. In Holland the first gay marriage was in 2001, 4 years earlier than the UK. But countries in the Middle East and dictatorships make it illegal for even homosexuals to have sex in private.

Look at our Gay travel for summary of what countries you can visit without any hassle.