Vice-Chancellor on the legacy of Lord Wolfenden

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

At 3.00pm this afternoon, the University will again fly the rainbow flag to take a stand against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex discrimination as part of this year's International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Writing for PinkNews.today, Sir David Bell reminds us about the legacy of Lord Wolfenden who helped decriminalise homosexuality in Britain.

Lord Wolfenden was the University's Vice-Chancellor between 1950 and 1964. In addition to his university responsibilities, he gained celebrity, as well as notoriety, as the man responsible for laying the ground for more liberal attitudes to sexuality in Britain.

The historic Wolfenden Report recommended that "homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence". A decade later, these recommendations were finally enshrined in law, changing British society for ever.

Read the Vice Chancellor's comment piece here >>>

All members of the University, staff and students, are welcome to join the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Students' Union around the flagpole between Whiteknights House and the Library.