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Quiz about Gay History 19501990
Quiz about Gay History 19501990

Gay History (1950-1990) Trivia Quiz


This quiz looks at the history of homosexuality (as well as related transgender issues) in the United Kingdom throughout most of the second half of the 20th century. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by jonnowales. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
jonnowales
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
362,887
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1966
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What was the name of the extremely talented cryptanalyst and computer scientist who, after being subjected to chemical castration, is believed to have taken his own life in 1954? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In 1957, the 'Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution' was released for all to read. By what name was this report better known? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. After Britain had had a decade to ponder the ideas set forth in the 'Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution', many senior politicians thought it was the right time to decriminalise aspects of homosexuality. In 1967, the Sexual Offences Bill became the Sexual Offences Act and consequently some restrictions on homosexual activities were removed. Did the Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalise aspects of homosexual behaviour in all four nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?


Question 4 of 10
4. There was a clash of cultures in 1971, when the Nationwide Festival of Light and the Gay Liberation Front went head-to-head. The Nationwide Festival of Light campaigned for a return to modest, traditional 'lifestyles' whilst the Gay Liberation Front wished for a modern, permissive society. What was the name of the social activist, known for the 'Clean Up TV Campaign', who was very active in the Nationwide Festival of Light? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1974, a writer and journalist for 'The Times' documented a personal transition from male to female in a publication called 'Conundrum'. What was the name of this writer who had previously reported on Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1975, John Hurt put in an excellent performance as a camp, gay man who refused to hide his homosexuality in an era when homosexuals tried desperately to stay "in the closet". What was the name of this film starring John Hurt, that portrayed homosexuality in a positive manner to the mainstream British television audience of the 1970s? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The year 1982 saw the establishment of the Terry Higgins Trust, an organisation that would later become known as the Terrence Higgins Trust. This group, well-known in gay communities across the UK, campaigned on issues related to what? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In the context of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) history of the 1980s, what was significant about the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury, Chris Smith? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A local authority (such as borough or county councils) "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality". This is an excerpt from the infamous Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, a piece of legislation that passed through parliament under the Premiership of which of the following people? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 1989, an organisation was established with the aim of campaigning for the rights of LGBT people. What was the name of this group that took inspiration from the famous rebellion that took place in the USA in 1969? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was the name of the extremely talented cryptanalyst and computer scientist who, after being subjected to chemical castration, is believed to have taken his own life in 1954?

Answer: Alan Turing

Alan Turing, regarded by many as being the "father of computer science", was an English cryptanalyst who was an important figure in Britain's encryption and decryption efforts throughout the Second World War. Unfortunately for Turing, he was prosecuted in 1952 for indecency under a section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885, an Act which prohibited certain homosexual acts.

As a consequence of breaking the law in such a manner, Alan Turing was forced to choose between a prison sentence or to subject himself to a course of hormones that would control his sexual urges.

As the latter of the two options granted probation, Turing opted to take a course of oestrogen (stilboestrol). Two years later, in 1954, Alan Turing was found dead and the cause of death registered as suicide by poison.
2. In 1957, the 'Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution' was released for all to read. By what name was this report better known?

Answer: Wolfenden Report

The 'Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution' was a document prepared by a committee chaired by Lord Wolfenden. It is a rather common occurrence for reports with long-winded titles to be referred to by a shorter, catchier name and in this case the everyday title became the 'Wolfenden Report'.

In the context of its time the conclusions drawn by the committee were radical, even going so far as to suggest that "homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence".
3. After Britain had had a decade to ponder the ideas set forth in the 'Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution', many senior politicians thought it was the right time to decriminalise aspects of homosexuality. In 1967, the Sexual Offences Bill became the Sexual Offences Act and consequently some restrictions on homosexual activities were removed. Did the Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalise aspects of homosexual behaviour in all four nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

Answer: No

Out of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), the Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalised some homosexual acts in just England and Wales. As such, the laws surrounding homosexuality at the time were different depending upon where in the UK you were situated. The legislation was very specific on the restrictions that were being lifted, namely "acts in private between two men, both of whom [have] attained the age of 21" were from thereon legal. In the early 1980s, both Scotland and Northern Ireland followed suit and for all four nations, the age of consent was dropped from 21 to eighteen (1994) and then to sixteen (2000).

Note: This information section made significant use of Wikipedia's article on 'Sexual Offences Act 1967' which in turn made use of a document of the same name published by the Office of Public Sector Information.
4. There was a clash of cultures in 1971, when the Nationwide Festival of Light and the Gay Liberation Front went head-to-head. The Nationwide Festival of Light campaigned for a return to modest, traditional 'lifestyles' whilst the Gay Liberation Front wished for a modern, permissive society. What was the name of the social activist, known for the 'Clean Up TV Campaign', who was very active in the Nationwide Festival of Light?

Answer: Mary Whitehouse

Mary Whitehouse is perhaps best known for her strong views on what should and should not be broadcast on Britain's radio stations and television channels. She was very vocal in her criticism of any programme that she thought threatened traditional standards of morality and homosexuality was one such threat. Along with people such as Sir Cliff Richard, Mary Whitehouse became involved with the Nationwide Festival of Light, an organisation that sought to stop society shifting towards a more sexualised culture.

In opposition to this was the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), a group that included members that arguably had a lot to gain from a more sexually permissive society in terms of acceptance of homosexuality. In 1971, the GLF interrupted a rally held by the Nationwide Festival of Light with GLF members dressed in drag. Now that really is a clash of cultures!
5. In 1974, a writer and journalist for 'The Times' documented a personal transition from male to female in a publication called 'Conundrum'. What was the name of this writer who had previously reported on Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest?

Answer: Jan Morris

At the time of Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest in the 1950s, Jan Morris went by her birth name of James and her gender at the time of her birth, male. Morris was a respected journalist and enthusiastic travel writer but she also penned 'Conundrum', a candid description of the decade of her life spent in transition from male to female.
6. In 1975, John Hurt put in an excellent performance as a camp, gay man who refused to hide his homosexuality in an era when homosexuals tried desperately to stay "in the closet". What was the name of this film starring John Hurt, that portrayed homosexuality in a positive manner to the mainstream British television audience of the 1970s?

Answer: The Naked Civil Servant

When it comes to widespread acceptance of a minority group, visibility is key. Whereas television can be used as a form of entertainment, it can also be used to change the attitudes of large numbers of people on a variety of social issues. In the television output of Western nations in the 21st century, LGBT characters are not exactly rare, but around the time that 'The Naked Civil Servant' was released, a character such as that played by John Hurt was not a common sight at all.
7. The year 1982 saw the establishment of the Terry Higgins Trust, an organisation that would later become known as the Terrence Higgins Trust. This group, well-known in gay communities across the UK, campaigned on issues related to what?

Answer: HIV/AIDS

The Terrence Higgins Trust was set up in the early 1980s, around the time that awareness of HIV/AIDS was starting to become more widespread. As is to be expected for a virus that caused great panic and fear amongst populations, misinformation was rife. Consequently, organisations such as the Terrence Higgins Trust were set up in order to inform people of the facts and provide information on how to reduce HIV transmission rates.
8. In the context of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) history of the 1980s, what was significant about the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury, Chris Smith?

Answer: One of the first openly gay MPs

Chris Smith wasn't the first gay person to be an MP but he was one of the first openly gay MPs. In fact, the Labour MP was very honest about who he was to the constituents who elected him. In 1984, the London-based politician found himself speaking on an LGBT-related issue and in his verbal statement he expressed the following, "Good afternoon, I'm Chris Smith, I'm the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury. I'm gay, and so for that matter are about a hundred other members of the House of Commons, but they won't tell you openly".

The comment may seem rather mundane but in 1984, this level of honesty regarding such matters was rarely seen in the political arena.
9. A local authority (such as borough or county councils) "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality". This is an excerpt from the infamous Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, a piece of legislation that passed through parliament under the Premiership of which of the following people?

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

When it came to gay issues, the Conservatives became associated with Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 for many decades after its passage through parliament. The legislation was overseen by the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and it was particularly important when it came to disseminating information on homosexuality in British schools. An excerpt which explicitly mentions schools reads as follows, "[a local authority shall not] promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

In a very interesting change of attitudes, the Conservatives were the party, supported by their Liberal Democrat coalition partners, who successfully legislated for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013.
10. In 1989, an organisation was established with the aim of campaigning for the rights of LGBT people. What was the name of this group that took inspiration from the famous rebellion that took place in the USA in 1969?

Answer: Stonewall UK

The Stonewall riots, named after the Stonewall Inn in New York, were uprisings brought about by a police raid of the aforementioned institution. The Stonewall Inn was regularly frequented by members of the LGBT community and became known as the geographical origin of the modern gay rights movement in America.

The legacy of the uprisings lasted for many decades through the name of gay rights groups set up all over the world, Stonewall UK being one such example.
Source: Author jonnowales

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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