Legacy of ’67-A voice for Queer Stories

In 1967 the law in England and Wales changed to partially decriminalise homosexual acts between men in private. This was followed by further legislation relating to the age of consent, the role of LGBTQ+ people in the armed forces, improved partnership, inheritance, and adoption rights, that have positively affected the lives of LGBTQ+ people. However, at the same time we’ve also seen the rise and fall of Section 28, which outlawed the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities and we’re currently seeing the demonisation of trans people and a profound backlash against liberalisation.

For the last twelve months IAP:MCR has been capturing the stories of people who have grown up between the ‘60s and the ‘80s to find out how these changes have affected them. This testimony will soon be deposited with Archives+ at Central Library. The IAP:MCR team has also conducted original research of contemporaneous source material to explore the changing attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in general society.

A display of this original archive material, ranging from Central Library’s own copy of the Wolfenden Report, Campaign for Homosexual Equality Manchester branch newsletters and editions of the Mancunian Gay magazine. IAP:MCR has commissioned visual artist Jez Dolan to respond to this project and he has produced a series of eight original works that will soon be on display in the Reading Room alongside the archives. This project has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Jez Dolan is an artist living and working in Manchester (UK). His practice underlines the intersections between queerness, sexuality, identity, and memory. He works across multiple platforms including drawing, performance, printmaking and most recently painting. https://www.jezdolan.com. Jez’s work is held in a number of public and private collection internationally including: the British Museum, Bury Art Museum, the (UK) Government Art Collection, the Leslie Lohman Museum NYC, the Schwules* Museum Berlin, the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool and others.

This exhibition is free, but please consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library