1. London Picture Archive No.314573
1533
Buggery Act is first passed into law, making anal
intercourse between men punishable by death.
1700s
Molly houses, where men could cross-dress, engage in
homosexual acts and ritual parody of contemporary
society grew at this time
They came particularly under scrutiny from the 1720s.
With Mother Clap's Molly house being raided in 1726,
the 'Mollie's' being tried for sodomy, and Margaret Clap
for keeping a disorderly house.
1889
Cleveland street scandal- a male brothel which was
found to have possibly had prominent aristocratic
clients was found by police.
1920s
Many lesbian and queer women began to adopt
trousers, although they would not be widely acceptable
or universally legal, until the 1970s.
Monacles also became popular in this decade,
particularly among upper class Lesbian circles, and
while it would fall out of fashion in the coming decade,
it would remain in use among particular circles of
women, but it was largely an indicator of class, rather
than sexuality.
4. 1980s
Protest badges were largely produced and
circulated in this decade and the previous, being
and unmissable, and often dangerous symbol of
queer visibility, and liberation.
A single piercing in the right ear increasingly
becomes a popular way for gay men to signal to
each other without outing themselves.
1985
The Gateways club closes, after having lost its late
license and losing popularity on weekdays.
1987
Homosexuality no longer classed as a mental
disorder on the DSM–III–R. However, gender
identity disorder was also introduced in this edition.
2005
A way for asexual people to queer signal, the Ace
ring was proposed in 2005 and has largely caught
on since.
Gay pride lapel badges, 1978-88. Museum of London
5. 2010
Hannah Dee criticised London pride in her
book ‘The Red in the Rainbow: Sexuality,
Socialism and LGBT Liberation’ for having
become a corporate sponsored event.
2013
'Gender identity disorder' was declassified
as a mental health disorder, being
replaced by 'Gender Dysphoria'
2017
Ashish Gupta, a London based
fashion designer with a close
connection to Vogue, unveils a
politically charged runway show
celebrating women, queer
identities and fashion.
He does this while simultaneously
criticising the then American
President, Donald Trump.
2019
First London trans+ pride parade formed,
partially in response to the anti-trans
demonstration in the Pride march of 2018.
2022
Harry Styles wears a dress on
the cover of British Vogue,
drawing praise and backlash.
2023
According to the office of national statistics (ONS) Anti-
trans hate crimes have risen by 186% in the past 5 years.
In a report released by the Home office for the year
ending March 2023, it states that reported crime had
risen by 11%, hitting an all-time high, and stated that this
rise may be in part inflammatory comments by politicians
and the media over the last year.
ONS also reported that Hate crime based on sexual
orientation has also risen by 112% in the past 5 years.