As we celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, this news item provides a whistle stop tour of Brunel’s evolution over the past 50 years to become a champion of the LGBTQ+ community.
The 60s are considered a turning point in history for freedom of expression and liberation. Yet, when Brunel University received its Charter in 1966, on the surface not a huge amount had changed for members of the LGBTQ+ community. However, following an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act in 1967, partially decriminalising male homosexual acts, we begin to see LGBTQ+ staff and students coming forward in the early 1970’s to break the silence and argue for their rights as part of the Brunel community.
On campus, women’s groups and a society for the LGBT community (the ‘Brunel Gay Group’) were created with the aim of tackling issues of sexism, homophobia and discrimination in all its forms. There was resistance to these rights claims in parts of the university, notably from the University Chancellor, Lord Halsbury, who, in 1977 as a member of the House of Lords opposed a proposal to lower the age of male homosexual consent in homosexual relationships from 21 to 18, his justification for this position having homophobic undertones. It is at this point we see a unification of both LGBT and other students and staff against this attitude as demonstrated by numerous correspondence directed to the Chancellor criticising his view, and protests led by the Head of Social Sciences; John Vaizey. This clash of ideologies sadly continued well into the 2000s.
On the one hand, progress and acceptance can be seen on campus during the 80’s through the emergence of events and club nights held on campus designed for the LGBT community, in addition to a growing awareness of the AIDS pandemic and support being offered to students on these subjects. University records even reveal that “Transsexualism” appears as a topic of research at Brunel in 1979. On the other hand, Section 28 of the Local Government Act (widely considered a response to Lord Halsbury’s Bill presented in 1986/87) was passed in Parliament, forbidding the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools, libraries and other settings.
Perhaps as a result of this legislation, it is possible to see some homophobic backlash during the 90s and early 2000s. Nevertheless, student societies and publications like “LeNurb” continued to lobby for LGBTQ+ rights, which has contributed to the more inclusive environment students and staff enjoy today. In recent years, a reinvigorated staff network and student society have made great strides in LGBTQ+ inclusion at Brunel: the university is now in the top-10 of higher education institutions in the Workplace Equality Index and we are proud to have received a Silver award from Stonewall for creating a positive environment for LGBTQ+ Staff and Students. It remains to be seen how we expand upon this work, continue to improve conditions and have an impact going forward.
