Homosexual Law Reform Plea (Press, 9 February 1966)
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Summary: Homosexual Law Reform Plea (Press, 9 February 1966)
On 8 February 1966, five hundred influential figures from Britain, including church leaders, submitted a petition to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, advocating for the reform of laws governing homosexual behaviour in the country. This petition was initiated by the Homosexual Law Reform Society and called for the prompt enactment of recommendations made by the Wolfenden Committee in September 1957, which suggested that consensual homosexual acts between adults should no longer be considered a criminal offence. The timing of the petition was significant as it came just four days before a scheduled debate in the House of Commons on a proposed all-party bill intended to legalise homosexual acts between consenting adults. A similar bill had previously been advanced in the House of Lords by the Earl of Arran but was rendered ineffective when the session concluded before it could be brought before the Commons. Notable signatories of the petition included 31 clergymen, among them the Archbishop of York, as well as former British Prime Minister Earl Attlee and celebrated novelist Graham Greene. This movement reflected a growing public and political will to reform laws viewed as outdated and discriminatory towards homosexuals.
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