Lesbians Attack Paper After... (Press, 9 January 1978)

On 9 January 1978, a significant backlash emerged from the lesbian community in response to a front-page article published by London's "Evening News." The piece reported that ten children had been born in Britain through artificial insemination (A.I.D.) to lesbian couples, inciting concern regarding the rights and home life of these children. In protest, approximately two dozen demonstrators, both men and women, staged a sit-in at the newspaper's offices, even setting off stink bombs. Their chants included statements such as, “Every woman has the right to have a child,” emphasising their belief in reproductive rights. The reports identified Dr David Moses Sopher, a gynaecologist operating in London's affluent Belgravia district, as the physician involved in helping these lesbian couples conceive. Jackie Forster, a founder of the lesbian organisation Sappho, indicated that she could confirm at least six lesbian couples who had undergone the A.I.D. process through Dr Sopher. Despite the serious implications of the story, Dr Sopher reportedly could not be reached for comments as his clinic stated he had "gone away." In the political sphere, several Conservative Members of Parliament responded swiftly, voicing their disapproval of the practice of A.I.D. for lesbian couples. MP Sir George Young described the act as unnatural and immoral. He expressed intentions to petition Health Minister Dr David Ennals to establish guidelines with the British Medical Association, suggesting that A.I.D. services should only be available to heterosexual couples in stable, traditional family units. He noted, “There are no guidelines or legislation on this matter because no one envisaged this happening.” Another vocal opponent, Dr Rhodes Boyson, also a Conservative MP, categorically condemned the practice, labelling it evil and selfish. He argued for a cessation of such methods undertaken without a natural father, asserting that society already grapples with numerous challenges that should not be exacerbated by such developments. The incident encapsulates a broader societal debate regarding the rights of lesbian couples and their families, highlighting the tensions between emerging reproductive technologies and traditional views on family structure. The protests at the newspaper office underscored a determination among members of the lesbian community to assert their rights in the face of public and political scrutiny.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand