Outrageous! The Story of Section 28

In his new book Outrageous! Paul Baker tells the story of Section 28: the law passed in 1988 forbidding local authorities from teaching ‘the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship’. It sent shockwaves through British society, silencing gay pupils and teachers while galvanising mass protests and the formation of the LGBTQ+ rights groups OutRage! and Stonewall.

Join Paul as he delves into the details behind this infamous Act: its background, how the press and politicians wrote and spoke about it, how protestors fought back and its eventual legacy.

Paul Baker is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. His books include American and British English (2018) and Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain’s Secret Gay Language (Reaktion Books, 2020).