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Words by Stuart Haggas |Photos: © Shutterstock/Mavo
Has a boyfriend ever cheated on you? Have you ever cheated? If either answer (or both) is "yes" then you're in the majority. The latest FS survey of almost 1,000 readers asked about their thoughts and experiences with extra-curricular activities outside of a relationship. 58% said that a partner has been unfaithful in a relationship, while 51% admitted that they've been unfaithful in a relationship. What does 'infidelity' even mean? What is considered 'cheating'? And can even open relationships be betrayed? We find out...
Infidelity is the fuel that powers tabloid gossip columns and celebrity websites.

It's a topic that fills the inbox of agony aunts and provokes outrage on daytime talk shows. It provides lyrical inspiration for heartbroken popstars and extra drama in soap operas. Perhaps it's no big surprise that infidelity is also commonplace on Britain's gay scene.

How do you know if he's cheating?

Some of the men we surveyed cited suspicious behaviour, others heard via friends. Some admitted to surreptitiously browsing the mobile/laptop of their spouse, while some simply caught them red-handed.

"I saw my then boyfriend kissing another guy in the toilets of a gay bar," says Carl, 26. "They then went into a cubicle together."

"He started seeing another person behind my back," says Paul, 36, "and he was stupid enough to tell a mutual friend, who then told me."

"He slept with multiple people behind my back and bragged about it to people who I thought were mutual friends," says Andy, 38.

"I found out that my boyfriend of three years was having an affair with a younger man for six months while working away," says Jordan, 45. "He denied it until I showed him the evidence that I'd found: a bundle of love letters from this man and a load of pictures. Needless to say I dumped him and asked him to move out."

"I was in a very serious relationship with a guy but then I started a new job where I had to work nights. He was working during the day so we didn't really get to see each other much, except at weekends," says Daniel, 46. "He met someone else and they became lovers. I suspected something was going on but he denied it. I think he felt so guilty about it that he went into extreme denial, telling me that I was paranoid or delusional, when in fact I read the situation exactly the way it was."

"We were together for eight months, and I was cheated on numerous times," says Adam, 32. "Then I found out that I was also an 'other guy' as his boyfriend had moved abroad but they hadn't split up."

Tiago Brandao is a counsellor at Terrence Higgins Trust. THT offers low cost counselling for gay and bisexual men, covering a whole range of issues including relationships and fidelity. "I have come across a number of gay men that crave connection and deep intimacy but struggle with the vulnerability needed to create such a connection," he says.

"This leads them to look for intimacy and connection in all the wrong places."

Dating apps provide fresh opportunities for gay and bisexual men to interact and hook-up - and it's up to each individual to choose which 'relationship status' box to tick.

"My boyfriend at the time was secretly using hook-up apps," says Cian, 32. "A few times, when we were out together in bars, he would be approached by guys. He would try to usher them away but while my boyfriend went to the toilet, a guy approached me and asked how I knew my boyfriend. He told me that they had met at a group session the week before."

"My ex used hook-up apps to meet guys for sex, went to saunas, and arranged a group sex session while I was out one afternoon," says Steve, 34. "He lied multiple times about where he was and who he was with."

"My boyfriend was living with me in my flat and was messaging other people asking for sex," says Martin, 24, "and referring to me as his flatmate."

"He kept going out all the time without me, telling me he was meeting family," says David, 22. "Then a friend told me that he was using hook-up apps to go cruising for other men, and not actually meeting family."

In some instances, being intimate with someone online without actually hooking up is enough of a red line.

"I was in an exclusive relationship with a man, and after we broke up but were still hanging out, I found that he had been chatting to other guys online and having online video liaisons with random guys from sites like Craigslist and Chaturbate," says Michael, 22.

"My partner drifted away from me, physically and emotionally," says Daniel, 38. "All the time he was engaging in online emotional relationships, sharing pics, intimate thoughts etc. It made me feel that I was not enough for him. He denied it repeatedly and it nearly drove me insane."

Men in open relationships are likely to have agreed "do's" and "don'ts", such as always using condoms for casual sex or never bringing casual partners home - hence rules can be broken and things can break down just as they can in any relationship.

"Our relationship was open. My partner started seeing the same person regularly but kept me in the dark about what was going on," says Kevin, 56.

"People started asking me if we'd split up after photos and comments about my partner and the guy he was seeing started appearing on social media."

"My partner continued seeing a particular sexual partner again and again, despite our rule of having sex with people besides each other only one time," says Paul, 31.

"I caught HIV when breaking the rules of an open relationship," admits Chris, 45. "I was much younger and my valuation tool was the conquest and sex. I didn't pass it on to my partner, but it was the end of that relationship and I went into self-destruct mode - self-medicating the pain of being poz away, and all the guilt and lack of self-worth."

The definition of infidelity is 'the action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse or other sexual partner', but in everyday life it's not necessarily easy to define.

If you're in a monogamous relationship and one of you secretly has sex with someone else, then that's infidelity - but what if it's cybersex with a stranger, is that infidelity? And if you're in an open relationship, what's the red line between open and unfaithful?

Ultimately, what actions do readers of FS consider as infidelity?
79% - ANAL SEX 76% - A BLOW JOB 74% - A HAND JOB 68% - BREAKING THE RULES OF AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP 66% - KISSING 62% - EMOTIONAL INTIMACY WITH ANOTHER PERSON 55% - USING HOOK-UP APPS 43% - SHARING SEXUAL IMAGES 34% - SENDING PRIVATE MESSAGES 18% - FLIRTING
It appears the majority of gay men in Britain won't tolerate infidelity, because of the men we surveyed 61% say they would break up with a partner/husband if they were unfaithful. 13% said no, and 26% were unsure.

"I expect a certain level of respect in a relationship," says Alex, 30. "Any of the above would be things I wouldn't do in a relationship out of respect for my partner, and I'd expect the same in return."

"If someone is in a serious relationship then they shouldn't do any of those things behind someone's back, or should at least discuss it," says Pete, 33.

"Relationships are about trust and respect," says Joe, 24, "and by doing those acts you're worthy of neither."

"It would devalue our relationship," says Steve, 29.

"If they're being intimate with another person I'm not OK with, I don't want to waste time on them," says Cole, 18.

"It is a breach of trust," says Joe, 26. "They are showing that they do not care for or respect your relationship."

"Once there is distrust because of the other person's actions, there'll always be distrust," adds Jamie, 36, "meaning you can't maintain the relationship moving forward."

"If someone is unfaithful to you, it shows a lack of respect for you and your relationship with them," agrees Cal, 20.

"They're breaking your trust and you can't be sure of their word any more if they've already broken the rules of your relationship."

"Cheating's cheating. I've never come across someone who said they've only cheated once. It's a learned behaviour and once someone's gotten away with it once or twice it becomes a habit," says Daniel, 32, "as well as a repeated reason for subsequent relationship breakdowns."

"In modern culture monogamy is seen as the norm, which comes with its own pressures and expectations," says Terrence Higgins Trust's Tiago Brandao.

"The participants in the survey who talk about infidelity as a betrayal and breach of trust are good examples of that pressure and expectation. Some gay men don't conform in the same way, which allows them to form open or polyamorous relationships, free from some of the pressures of monogamy. But, of course, those relationships come with their own set of challenges and difficulties. That kind of relationship isn't for everyone.

"The decision to stay or leave a relationship after infidelity is a very personal one," Tiago adds.

"Processing what has happened will help you to move forward in the relationship, or to resolve any issues or scars that the relationship has left behind."

Some of the men we surveyed were willing to forgive.

"I have certain red flags," says Jez, 48. "But I would listen to the reason before automatically ending it."

"I would initially have to communicate my frustrations and feelings with my partner before I decide what to do," says Peter, 22. "If they were open to change/working towards the same goal, I could find it in myself to forgive them."

But forgiveness is rarely an unlimited deal.

"It depends on the circumstances," says David, 38, "but I'd find a continued pattern of that behaviour difficult to ignore."

Couples who choose to stay together will most likely find that their relationship has changed.

"I struggled to get over it," says David, 23."I didn't want to end the relationship as I was still in love with him. As the relationship continued it was evident I couldn't regain that trust in him, and then the relationship fell apart."

"I had no trust left," says Chris, 33. "We were arguing. Not being able to believe anything that the other person says is not nice."

"I don't have any trust in him any more," admits Freddie, 33. "I know I can't bring the subject up or we will break up. It's difficult. Either way I lose. Stay

with him and I have constant mental torture, leave him and I lose the love of my life."

"We keep trying to make it work but trust, security, insecurity and honesty are making it very difficult," says Mark, 47,

"together with his refusal to be totally honest about what really happened and why."

"I stopped loving him," says John, 26.

But it can occasionally have a positive impact by making a relationship stronger.

"For a time it made things very tough as there was a lack of trust," says Barry, 45. "Ironically though, the split helped us realise how much we meant to each other and we started to talk much more openly and honestly. In the end our relationship was stronger, but it was tough and took a lot of work."

"The initial shock of discovery was soon thought through, discussed, and if anything it made our commitment to each other stronger," says BJ, 63. "Sex doesn't define our entire relationship."

"I struggled to deal with it for around six months to a year - not necessarily the cheating itself, but the lying," says John, 35. "But we got through it, and I feel a much stronger person as a result."

Having an unfaithful partner can affect your mental health and well-being. It can also taint future relationships.

In fact, 57% of those surveyed said that infidelity impacted their future relationships.

"It made me question my ability to please my partner," says Josh, 25. "It made me question my self-confidence and drained me emotionally."

"I continually question my new partner's real motives," says Daniel 38, "and I am beside myself with anxiety most of the time that he is cheating or will cheat on me."

"I now have issues trusting men," says Tyla, 20, "and while I never have, I often have urges to check their social media and phones to see that they're being faithful in all respects."

"I don't trust anyone," says Daniel, 32. "It seems like everyone on the gay scene around here has a story about how they've cheated but follows up with 'but things hadn't been right for a while' - that doesn't excuse the behaviour!"

"It made me more cynical unfortunately," says Donal, 44, "but also more careful in future prospects."

"I haven't had a secure long-term relationship since. It's hard to see my own worth after feeling so replaceable," says Ezekiel, 21, "and knowing that someone is capable of cheating doesn't make me optimistic for future relationships."

"I was scared of entering new relationships," says Harry, 21, "and decided to have casual sex with strangers so I couldn't be hurt."

Why are we unfaithful? Some cheat when we're drunk, or when we're away from home. Some of us can't resist sex with an ex - and some just can't resist sex.

"There are a range of 'reasons' why people cheat," acknowledges THT's Tiago Brandao. "In psychology it is widely accepted that if people have feelings that they have not dealt with, those can manifest in self-destructive behaviours. Shame is an extremely toxic emotion that I see quite often among gay men who come for counselling and can lead to a range of damaging behaviours, including infidelity."

But it's not always because we're horny. Sometimes it's because we're unhappy or lonely or simply bored.

"It was out of boredom," admits Vincent, 29.

"Getting no attention from a partner for more than two months. It didn't end up well."

"I felt unwanted and unhappy," says Janos, 36. "My partner preferred drinking and taking drugs instead of spending quality time with me. Someone else showed interest in me, and it felt good."

"We were going through a bad patch. His drug addiction left him rolling around the floor on G for hours everyday," says Cian, 32. "I needed an escape from it all. Trying to work full time to live, and having to go home to an unloving environment was taking its toll. I went on a night out with friends and was shocked to realise a guy was flirting with me! It had been ages since I was hit on by someone. I went back to his and we fucked for hours. It made me feel alive again."

Although it takes just one partner to cheat, it's important to remember that it takes two to make a relationship - and both contribute to its success or its failure.

"Relationships are co-created, which means that both partners contribute to them, in one way or another," explains THT's Tiago Brandao. "We all have a tendency to see things as black or white, good or bad, right or wrong - but, in reality, relationships are always more complicated than that. It is very important to avoid turning infidelity into a blame game and understand the motivators behind these behaviours - even if you disagree with them, if you want to move on and learn. We all make mistakes and we all have flaws."

We asked HERO - Health Equality and Rights Organisation's Chief Executive, Ian Howley, for his thoughts on this issue.

"What's clear to us from the results of the survey and what gay men told us about their experiences is that some gay me are making the same mistakes regarding communication, trust and boundaries.

"There's huge issue of gay men not being able to talk to one another about what they want sexually. We grow up in a very heterosexual society where 'cheating' is enough to end relationships and long standing marriages because that's what society has taught us to do. And it's not shocking to find that these standards are also put on gay men - from within the gay community too might I add.

"Your relationship is yours and no-one has any right to form judgement on it. If you want an open relationship (whatever that is for you) then talk with your partner about it. If he doesn't, then you know where you stand. If he does, then work with him to form a trusted partnership. It's vital that rules and boundaries are put in place so both are OK with the terms at the beginning.

"However, be prepared for some of those rules to change over time. Why? Because it happens. What you need to be comfortable is being OK to discuss when rules have been broken and how to move forward.

Relationships are meant to be people coming together to share experiences, emotions and working together to form a better life. What happens is that many men fall into relationships without knowing exactly what they want and how best to meet the emotional needs of a partner. This can lead to many gay men self-sabotaging their relationships rather than having an honest conversation with their partners about what they want.

Ian adds: "I've met lots of gay couples who are perfect for each, emotionally, but sexually they didn't work, or it just fizzled out but rather than work together on this, one or both of them cheats on their partner leading to the eventual breakdown of their relationships.

"Now 'cheating' may start with flirting with a stranger or sliding into someone's DMs on Twitter, but it only takes a few conversation exchanges before thoughts are put into action and then you have an issue that might bring the end to your relationship.

"Of course sex is important for any relationship to work but you can not and never will be able to meet the needs of someone 100% of the time. And we are foolish to put that pressure on ourselves.

"Communication is vital for relationships to succeed. If you are in a relationship and it's got a bit stale, then you need to communicate this with your partner. He maybe thinking the same as you and by having the conversation you can hopefully avoid 'cheating'- whatever that means for you - and get your relationship back on track.

"If you are lucky to find someone that does it for you, is there for you emotionally, physically and treats you with the respect you deserve, then you must work on the relationship. Letting a relationship die because of sex is silly. More often he will work with you and you can work together to explore options that will keep your relationship tight.

"However, if it's over, then it's over. We all must learn to know when a relationship is done and show respect for the person you are with. They'd much rather you broke up with them than hurt their feelings."

INFIDELITY SURVEY RESULTS

WE ASKED: HAS A PARTNER EVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL?

WE ASKED: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL IN A RELATIONSHIP?

WE ASKED: DID YOUR PARTNER FIND OUT?

WE ASKED: IF YOU'VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL, DID YOU EVER GET AN STI?

WE ASKED: IF YES, DID YOU INFORM YOUR PARTNER?
Terrence Higgins Trust offers low cost counselling for gay and bisexual men. For more information visit www.tht.org.uk/connect. READ ALL THE ARTICLES FROM FS #164:

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Infidelity and the gay community: Do gay men struggle to be faithful?

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Words by Stuart Haggas |Photos: © Shutterstock/Mavo Has a boyfriend ever cheated on you? Have you ever cheated? If either answer (or both) is "yes" then you're in the majority. The latest FS survey of almost 1,000 readers asked about their thoughts and experiences with extra-curricular activities outside of a relationship.

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We know they are from London based on the text, ie when F says "the tube". Soho is considered the epicentre of London's gay community, and due to M's occupation, stockbroker, the centre of London seems a plausible place for them to live. However, Clapham or Hampstead, both listed in this article, might be more suitable for a gay, working couple, especially in 2009 (see Finances section).

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THE LGBT FRIENDLY ULTIMATE GUIDE

For hundreds of years, members of the LGBT community have been venturing to London to find refuge from discrimination in their home villages, cities or countries. But in the last 20 years, the LGBT community has become even more prevalent in London, with gay bars and clubs slowing moving from London's basements and back alleys, to main streets and tourist areas.

Not only that, in recent years some of the most famous LGBT events in the world have been held in an around London, such as the annual Gay Pride Parade, the Winter Pride Art Awards, and the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; (just to name a few).

If you're hoping to attend one of London's many LGBT-related events, or even if you want to check out some of London's many happening gay and lesbian-friendly clubs, bars and venues, here are the best neighbourhoods in London known for their LGBT-friendly vibes:

Soho

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the epicentre of London's gay community is in Soho. As a matter of fact, London's West End has been known for its thriving gay culture for hundreds of years, especially around Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus. But Soho's gay community can be traced all the way back to the 1890s, and there were even records of gay-friendly cafes in the 1920s and 1930s as well. Today, Soho is home to countless gay bars and clubs, cafes and sex shops, and even home to the London LGBT Tourist Office. Old Compton Street in particular has a ton of different gay and lesbian restaurants, cafes and clubs, and the Admiral Duncan at 54 Old Compton Street even displays a plaque in honour of those who lost their lives in the 1999 homophobic bomb blast in London. LGBT-friendly places to visit in Soho: G-A-Y, Candy Bar, The Friendly Society, The Admiral Duncan Shadow Lounge, Edge, Ku Bar, She Soho

Vauxhall

Vauxhall is considered to be the second most popular gay-friendly area in London (behind Soho, of course), and originally became a gay destination in London during the 1660s after the opening of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Vauxhall was also a popular destination for the LGBT community during the 1950s as it was famous for many cabaret and drag acts, and The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been welcoming members of the gay community since the Second World War.

Many clubs and venues in Vauxhall host fetish and special interest nights (with the Hidden and the Hoist being the most popular), and there's also gay-friendly cocktail bars and pubs, as well as a male-only gym. LGBT-friendly places to visit in Vauxhall: The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Pleasure Gardens, Barcode, Chariots Fire, Hidden and The Hoist, Chariots and Locker Room, Crash

Camden

Photo credit: Chris Adams

Given that Camden is the epicentre of London's alternative scene, the gay community has been venturing to Camden's welcoming streets for many decades. The Black Cab was a popular LGBT-friendly pub in London for many years (although it closed last year), and was considered a "key gay community venue" since as far back as the 1960s.

Today, there are thousands of members of the LGBT community living, working and studying in Camden, and the neighbourhood is also home to many LGBT organizations like the Camden Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Forum, and Age UK Camden Opening Doors London (which offers telephone advice as well as monthly walks). LGBT-friendly places to visit in Camden: Electric Ballroom, Bloc Bar, Proud, Central Station, G.A.Y. Late, Friendly Society, The Black Cap

Stoke Newington

Although Stoke Newington or "Stokey" is home to several gay clubs and bars, it's also a popular residential neighbourhood for members of the LGBT community as well. As a matter of fact, one of the schools in Stoke Newington was the first to include LGBT History month into its curriculum, which made the area even more popular among gay families.

The gay nightlife scene in Stoke Newington is mostly centered around Blush (one of the most popular lesbian-friendly clubs in London), but there are also a variety of alternative venues like WANC Cafe (Women's Anarchist Nuisance Cafe), as well as Tonic's karaoke and drag show events. LGBT-friendly places to visit in Stoke Newington: Blush, Tonic, WANC Cafe (Women's Anarchist Nuisance Cafe), Church Street

Islington

Photo credit: Cuddly Little Owl (Flickr)

This North London neighbourhood has the highest number of same sex couples of the UK, and also offers a ton of different gay bars and clubs (especially among Essex Road and Upper Street).

During the 1970s, Islington was a popular destination to members of the LGBT community in London because of the Prince Albert (a legendary gay bar and "political activism haven"), and today there are a ton of male-only clubs and bars, as well as some lesbian-friendly bars and events as well (such as Y Bar on Thursday nights). LGBT-friendly places to visit in Islington: Central Station, Eastbloc, Y Bar, Scala, Fabric, anywhere along Upper Street and Essex Road

Clapham

Believe it or not, Clapham has become known for its thriving, vibrant gay scene, and some people believe that the best gay bars in London are located in this happening London neighbourhood.

The Two Brewers is known to host some spectacular drag cabaret events, and the funky disco bar known as the Kazbar is a popular hangout among the gay community as well. The two bars also help promote the popular annual Clapham Street Party, which draws in party-goers from all walks of life.

Not only that, the 2007 film Clapham Junction (which was inspired by the murder of Jody Dobrowki in 2005), depicts the experiences of a group of gay men in Clapham. The film was broadcasted on Channel 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of decriminalization of homosexuality in England and Wales. LGBT-friendly places to visit in Clapham: The Two Brewers, Kazbar, The Sun, Bridge

Hampstead

Photo credit: Kristjan (Flickr)

Not only is Hampstead home to one of the oldest gay bars in London (William IV), it has also been a popular gay destination for many years (mainly thanks to the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds, which are still used today).

The Hampstead Heath ponds have become known as "the world's number one cruising ground," and many members of the gay community would venture here for hook-ups without fear of discrimination. The ponds, which include the Ladies' Pond, the Men's Pond and the Mixed Pond, offer a sheltered concrete sundeck (which is ideal for nude sunbathing), and for many years police and local authorities "turned a blind eye" to the activities that went on in its secluded lakes and woodlands. LGBT-friendly places to visit in Hampstead: William IV, Hampstead Heath Ponds

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Exploring London's Neighbourhoods: The LGBT Friendly | Strawberry Tours

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For hundreds of years, members of the LGBT community have been venturing to London to find refuge from discrimination in their home villages, cities or countries. But in the last 20 years, the LGBT community has become even more prevalent in London, with gay bars and clubs slowing moving from London's basements and back alleys, to main streets and tourist areas.

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"I would have liked more social detail: how, I wondered, does the hapless John actually earn a living?"
- Perhaps the absence of things like his job is because although he is the only character with a name, he is the most lost in himself

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ou may, according to taste, find the title a come-on or a turn-off. But, far from being a sensational shocker, Mike Bartlett's play is a sharp, witty study of a man helplessly torn between his longtime male partner and a loving woman. Bartlett's theme, in fact, is less tortured bisexuality than the paralysing indecision that stems from not knowing who one really is.

Ironically, the dithering protagonist, John, is the only character to be given a name. But it is his lack of any definite identity that throws everyone into a spin. To his stockbroker partner, M, he is a slightly irritating but lovable household fixture. To the divorced classroom assistant, W, whom he quixotically goes to bed with, he becomes a shield against solitude. Matters come nicely to the boil in a quasi-Ayckbournian dinner party where John, simultaneously pledged to both parties, is finally forced to make a choice.

I would have liked more social detail: how, I wondered, does the hapless John actually earn a living? And at certain points you feel he is simply a selfish twerp who uses his personality defect as an excuse for inflicting pain. But irritation is forestalled by the acuity of the writing and by the wiry charisma of Ben Whishaw who, having played Hamlet, knows a thing or two about vacillating uncertainty.

Everyone, in fact, in James Macdonald's beautifully crisp production is spot-on: Katherine Parkinson as the tender divorcee, Andrew Scott as John's bubblingly outraged partner and Paul Jesson as the latter's blusteringly protective dad unexpectedly invited to dinner. And it seems wholly apt that Miriam Buether's set turns the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs into what looks like a circular dissecting-chamber since Bartlett's play examines, with clinical precision, what Schopenhauer once called "the tyranny of the weak."

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Theatre review: Cock, Royal Court, London

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ou may, according to taste, find the title a come-on or a turn-off. But, far from being a sensational shocker, Mike Bartlett's play is a sharp, witty study of a man helplessly torn between his longtime male partner and a loving woman.

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"The play is as much about power as it is about identity."

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★★★½

In a way, there's a silver lining in knowing that a gay man "coming out" as straight has become a bit of a comedic cliche. This and other themes were explored in Mike Bartlett's 2009 play Cock, directed by Beng Oh as part of this year's Midsumma Festival.

Matthew Connell plays John, a confidently gay man who falls in love with a woman. What ensues is a series of confusion, gender politics and a battle between romantic partners.

John's character is frustrating and incapable of - for a lack of a better term - picking a side. Is his attraction to W "just a phase"? That's what his boyfriend, M, and father-in-law seem to believe.

Connell has a firm grip on his character, giving subtle smirks and breaking fits of anger when needed in order to add depth. Marissa O'Reilly's complementary portrayal of the woman, W, is strong, bringing sympathy and humour to a role despised half of the characters. Shaun Goss' depiction of M is dramatic and flamboyant, unclear whether he is overacting or just simply parodying the gay stereotype.

The dialogue takes a leaf from Aaron Sorkin's book, with back and forth between John and M firing at a rapid pace, to the extent it is somewhat unbelievable. Oh's direction of Cock in the unconventional theatre in the round space added a new layer of chaos to the plot. Frantic walking around and entrances from various stage points kept the play in flux and the pace constantly pushing forward.

The play is as much about power as it is about identity. M switches from doting to cold in a heartbeat, depending on John's fondness of him at the time. It's a symptom typical of an emotionally abusive relationship, bringing to light the fact that any relationship can turn toxic. Both M and W seek John's company, and will refuse him the time needed to sort his own shit out.

In the end, Bartlett was right to have John walk away from both potential partners, as I, and I'm sure most of the audience, would be left wondering 'what if' if one was chosen over the other. It's also the morally right conclusion: no matter which partner he chose, John would be effectively playing into this false belief that any shift from heterosexuality is temporary.

Given the play was written a decade ago, it might be a little easier to shrug off the misogyny and transphobia present in the dialogue, but it can also speak to the issues that continue to plague the gay scene. Moreover, one has to wonder whether a play that only mentions the word "bisexual" once or twice in its script - and even then, it's in a pejorative context - has a place in 2019. Even if the coming out stereotype is turned on its head, within the play lies an underlying question of whether the B in LGBTIQ+ truly exists. What matters now is whether the audience knows the right answer. Maybe cock isn't the only four letter word present.
Cock is running at fortyfivedownstairs until Sunday February 10 as part of Midsumma Festival.

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REVIEW: Mike Bartlett's 'Cock' is theatrically strong, but its themes are outdated

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In a way, there's a silver lining in knowing that a gay man "coming out" as straight has become a bit of a comedic cliche. This and other themes were explored in Mike Bartlett's 2009 play Cock, directed by Beng Oh as part of this year's Midsumma Festival.

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Includes statistics from 2010 (only a year after the play is set)

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Infidelity is one of the most commonly cited reasons for divorce in the UK according to the Office of National Statistics [1] - but who is doing it and how are the trends changing?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put together an infographic that shows the statistics on infidelity in marriage and relationships across the UK.

Do Men Cheat More Often Than Women?

Both men and women are equally capable of having an affair, although when most people hear the word 'cheater', they tend to picture a man. Historically, it may have been more likely that men were unfaithful, however, this trend is rapidly changing.

The percentage of married women having affairs rose almost 40 per cent from 1990 to 2010 reaching 14.7%, while the number of men admitting to extramarital affairs held constant at around 22%, according to data from the National Opinion Research Centre's General Social Survey [2].

Although the infidelity statistics in the UK show the percentage of men having affairs while married remains higher, in unmarried relationships, males and females are now engaging in infidelity at similar rates [3]. A 2017 study found that 57% of males and 54% of females admitted to committing infidelity in one or more of their relationships [4].

These numbers all depend on whether people are willing to tell the truth about their infidelity, but it is clear that both genders have the ability to cheat on one another.

Is It True That Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater?

Is this old saying true? In a survey performed by YouGov for The Sun newspaper regarding infidelity statics in the UK, one in five British adults admitted to having had an affair. Of those who have had an affair, only half have stopped at one. 20% have had three or more and 8% have had five or more [5]. These infidelity statistics may paint a worrying picture if you know your partner has cheated before.

How Do People Meet Those They Cheated With?

In a poll of 2,000 of its customers, Superdrug found that more than 30% of cheaters have done so with a friend [6]. At work was the next most popular setting, with another third of respondents saying that they met someone with whom they cheated with in the workplace [6].

Of course, social media was another popular place to connect with new partners, with 20% of users admitting to meeting and cheating with someone they met online [6]. This encompasses both dating apps as well as avenues such as Facebook where people are able to reconnect with exes or old friends. In the UK in 2012, UK divorce site Divorce-Online found that one in five divorce petitions submitted to its database contained the word Facebook [7].

What Behaviours to Look out for?

Behaviours of cheaters tend to be associated with changes in normal behaviours and routines. Below are five of the most common signs of cheating [8] :

1. Changes in intimacy: A marked change in intimacy or affection levels may indicate infidelity.

2. Secretive phone habits: A partner that hides or is protective of his or her phone or is secretive about their call logs and text messages is a common sign of infidelity. Some studies have noted that up to 60% of people surveyed have said a text message incriminated a spouse or aroused suspicion that a partner was cheating [9].

3. Suspicious internet use: Similar to phone habits, a partner who is overly secretive about general internet and computer habits can indicate infidelity.

4. Changes in work routine: A partner who is suddenly constantly working late or attending business functions and conferences can be a worrying sign.

5. Changes in grooming habits: A spouse that showers right when they get home, changes their style of dress, or changes their grooming habits can be a sign of cheating.

If you want to know more about what to look out for, check out our article on the 5 potential signs your partner may be cheating on you.

How Does a PI Catch a Cheating Partner?

Investigations will vary based on your wants and needs however, many times an investigation to catch a cheating spouse will include:

1. Discussion with the client - Before beginning an investigation, a private investigator will gather as much information as possible about the person in question. The more information you can share such as their regular activities and schedule, the more successful the investigation is likely to be.

2. Surveillance - A private investigator surveys your partner using advanced surveillance methods to ensure that you obtain the evidence you need. These methods may include surveillance of your partner's home or office, following them from one location to another, attending the same events, or tracking your partner's vehicle.

3. Evidence - Evidence gathered by a professional private investigator can provide indisputable proof such as photographic or video evidence of any indiscretions they might witness or may give peace of mind that no such behaviour was seen or the client may be presented with a report detailing the subject's movements and interactions.

If you would like to find out more, read our article about how to catch a cheating spouse.

These UK infidelity statistics can be worrying and the suspicion that your spouse may be cheating is a painful thought. According to the Affairs of the Heart cases dealt with here at Global Investigations, wives who suspect their husbands of cheating are correct 79% of the time, while husbands who suspect their wives of cheating are correct 62% of the time.

These statistics are in line with other investigators [10] [11] and unfortunately show if you have a suspicion that your spouse is unfaithful, you may be right.
If you feel your partner is cheating on you and you want proof or peace of mind, we are here to help. Call us now on 0208 287 7770 or get in touch via email at info@globalinvestigations.co.uk

[1] O. o. N. Statistics, "Divorces in England and Wales: 2018," 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/ birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/ 2018#unreasonable-behaviour-was-the-most-commonly-used-ground-for-divorce-by-both-opposite-sex-and-same-sex-couples.

[2] N. O. R. Centre, "General Society Survey," [Online]. Available: http://gss.norc.org/get-documentation/social-change-reports.

[3] M. W. Wiederman, "Extradyadic Involvement during Dating," Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 265-274, 1999.

[4] F. F. a. R. May, "Infidelity in romantic relationships," Current Opinion in Psychology, vol. 13, pp. 70-74, 2017.

[5] YouGov, "1 in 5 British adults say they have had an affair," [Online]. Available: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2015/05/27/one-five-british-adults-admit-affair.

[6] Superdrug, "Cheaters on Cheating," [Online]. Available: https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/cheaters-on-cheating/.

[7] "Facebook Is The New Cause Of Divorce," July 2012. [Online]. Available: https://thetechjournal.com/internet/facebook-is-the-new-cause-of-divorce.xhtml. [Accessed 15 05 2020].

[8] "Infidelity / Cheating Spouse Investigation," [Online]. Available: https://www.pinow.com/investigations/infidelity-cheating-spouse. [Accessed 15 5 2020].

[9] "Infidelity in the Digital Age: An Infographic," 2012. [Online]. Available: https://www.itscheating.com/adultery/infidelity-in-the-digital-age-an-infographic/. [Accessed 15 05 2020].

[10] R. Hosey, "Is your partner cheating on you?," 6 January 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/partner-cheating-infidelity-private-investigator-detective-infidelity-signs-guide-relationships-a7513291.html. [Accessed 14 May 2020].

[11] P. Staff, "Signs of a Cheating Spouse," February 2012. [Online]. Available: https://www.pinow.com/articles/1061/infidelity-infographic. [Accessed 15 05 2020].

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Infidelity Statistics in the UK [Infographic]

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Infidelity is one of the most commonly cited reasons for divorce in the UK according to the Office of National Statistics [1] - but who is doing it and how are the trends changing? During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put together an infographic that shows the statistics on infidelity in marriage and relationships across the ...

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We're used to thinking men are more likely than women to stray in a relationship - but it seems the roles are being reversed.

A new survey suggests that it's women who are more unfaithful, with four in 10 admitting that they have cheated on their partner.

By comparison, three in 10 men said they had done the dirty on their nearest and dearest.

It also emerged that four in 10 cheats ended up snogging someone whilst out clubbing, while almost one in four got carried away with a colleague at a work do.

More than half of women said they loved attention from men. More than a third said men often got the wrong idea because they were so flirtatious.

More than a third of women also claimed their "minor indiscretion" happened by accident because their flirting got out of hand.

According to sex and relationships expert Alex Hooper-Hodson, the survey results reflect current trends.

He said: "There has been a massive change in this issue compared with previous years.

"In the 80s, an academic called Annette Lawson wrote a book called Adultery in which she said the rate of infidelity among men was 60 per cent over the course of a marriage and 40 per cent for women.

"But the book also showed that the rate of increase in infidelity was higher among women, so it was likely they would overtake men.

"What you're seeing now is the result of that trend.

"It could be put down to women being more fussy, more picky, more confident and more in charge of their lives than they were 20 years ago.

"In a sense, they're behaving like old-fashioned men. They're having their cake and eating it."

The research showed that 58 per cent of women who have cheated have kissed someone other than their partner, while 27 per cent have had sex with someone else.

And 47 per cent admitted they cannot help dancing provocatively with men whenever they are on a night out.

A fifth of girls said they get a thrill from cheating on their partner and, despite knowing it is wrong, want to do it again.

The survey also revealed 27 per cent of women find strangers attractive and love the thrill of chasing them on a night out.

One in four said they cannot resist the temptation of a man in uniform, while almost one in five tend to cheat with those in authority.

Builders and gym instructors are common targets for women, as one in 10 said they cannot help flirting outrageously with them.

Suzy Miller, creator of Britain's first ever divorce fairs, feels the figures could simply point to women being more honest.

She said: "I think these days there is less social stigma attached to infidelity and people regard it as more normal, which is not a good thing.

"In places such as France and Italy, the culture is much more relaxed about these things, so perhaps our attitudes are becoming more continental "I think women are also more willing to give reasons for their infidelity, such as being unhappy.

"I can imagine there being a lot of women out there in long-term relationships who feel neglected, while their partners become complacent.

But Suzy did admit that more women in relationships are indulging in "minor indiscretions" in places such as parties and nights out.

She said: "A lot of that goes on as people are drinking so much alcohol and doing so much going out and partying. The idea that you only do that when you're young isn't true at all. Nowadays, we keep going for as long as we possibly can.

"But I'd be surprised if there are actually greater levels of infidelity now than there were in the past.

"I think it's just that people are more able to talk about it and there is less stigma attached to it.

"At least if we're more able to talk about these things, we're more likely to look at what's going wrong."

Hooper-Hodson agrees that our changing social lives could be contributing to the problem.

He said: "Society has changed to some degree and it's changed women's outlooks.

"It's almost an extension of the lad culture. Women are effectively taking up that male role, while men are becoming a bit more sensitive.

"The drinking and clubbing culture has increased massively over the last 30 years and it's a whole different ball game in terms of going out and having fun.

"That's certainly the case with younger people but you also have to look at people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are being unfaithful.

"Even though people know they're doing something they shouldn't, they want to have a bit of excitement and drama in their lives."
The poll for Opera North marks their production of Cosi Fan Tutte, an opera looking at the nature of infidelity.

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Women more likely to be unfaithful than men, finds new survey

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We're used to thinking men are more likely than women to stray in a relationship - but it seems the roles are being reversed. A new survey suggests that it's women who are more unfaithful, with four in 10 admitting that they have cheated on their partner.

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Some articles discussing infidelity in couples and marriages:

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Poker Face became the UK's best-selling single of 2009. Lady Gaga would go on to do important work for LGBTQ+ people around the world. Poker Face was one of her first smash-hits, contributing to her being able to use her platform in the first place.

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Lady Gaga - Poker Face (Official Music Video)

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By 2009, Britain was seeing the effects of the Credit Crunch, including rises in unemployment and changes in house prices

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The credit crunch refers to a sudden shortage of funds for lending, leading to a decline in loans available. A credit crunch can occur for various reasons:

Sudden increase in interest rates (e.g. in 1992, UK government increased rates to 15%)

Direct money controls by the government (rarely used by Western Governments these days)

A drying up of funds in the capital markets

1. US mortgage lenders sold many inappropriate mortgages to customers with low income and poor credit. It was hoped with a booming housing market, mortgages would remain affordable.

2. Often there were lax controls on the sale of mortgage products. Mortgage brokers got paid for selling a mortgage, so there was an incentive to sell mortgages even if they were too expensive and high chance of default.

3. To sell more profitable sub-prime mortgages, mortgage companies bundled the debt into consolidation packages and sold the debt on to other finance companies. In other words, mortgage companies borrowed to be able to lend mortgages. The lending was not financed out of savings accounts. (the traditional banking model)

4. These mortgage debts were bought by financial intermediaries. The idea was to spread the risk, but, actually, it just spread the problem.

5. Usually, sub-prime mortgages would have a high-risk assessment rating. But, when the mortgage bundles got passed onto other lenders, rating agencies gave these risky sub-prime mortgages a low-risk rating. Therefore, the financial system denied the extent of risk in their balance sheets.

6. Many of these mortgages had an introductory period of 1-2 years of very low-interest rates. At the end of this period, interest rates increased significantly, reducing mortgage affordability.

7. In 2007, the US had to increase interest rates because of inflation. This made mortgage payments more expensive. Furthermore, many homeowners who had taken out mortgages two years earlier now faced ballooning mortgage payments as their introductory period ended. Homeowners also faced lower disposable income because of rising health care costs, rising petrol prices and rising food prices.

8. This caused a rise in mortgage defaults, as many new homeowners could not afford mortgage payments. These defaults also signalled the end of the US housing boom. US house prices started to fall, and this caused more mortgage problems. For example, people with 100% mortgages now faced negative equity. It also meant that the loans were no longer secured. If people did default, the bank couldn't guarantee to recoup the initial loan.

9. The number of defaults caused many medium-sized US mortgage companies to go bankrupt. However, the losses weren't confined to mortgage lenders; many banks also lost billions of pounds in the bad mortgage debt they had bought off US mortgage companies. Banks had to write off massive losses and this made them reluctant to make any further lending, especially in the now risky subprime sector.

10. The result was that all around the world, it became very difficult to raise funds and borrow money. The cost of interbank lending has increased significantly. Often it was very difficult to borrow any money at all. The markets dried up.

11. This affected many firms who had been exposed to the sub-prime lending. It also affected a wide variety of firms who now have difficulty borrowing money. For example, biotech companies rely on 'high risk' investment and are now struggling to get enough funds.

12. The slow down in borrowing has contributed to a slowing economy with the possibility of a recession in the US a real problem.

1. UK mortgage lenders did not lend so many bad mortgages. Although mortgage lending became more relaxed in the past few years, it still had more controls in place than the US.

2. However, the credit crunch caused very serious problems for Northern Rock. Northern Rock had a high % of risky loans, but, also had the highest % of loans financed through reselling in the capital markets. When the sub-prime crisis hit, Northern Rock could no longer raise enough funds in the usual capital markets. It was left with a shortfall and eventually had to make the humiliating step of asking the Bank of England for emergency funds. Because the Bank asked for emergency funds, this caused its customers to worry and start to withdraw savings (even though savings weren't directly affected)

3. As a result of the credit crunch, the UK has seen a change in the mortgage market. Mortgages have become more expensive. Risky mortgage products like 125% mortgages have been removed from the market.

4. UK Banks continue to face problems. HBOS (Owner of Halifax) struggled to finance its balance sheet. Like Northern Rock, it financed an expansion of lending by borrowing. Now money markets have frozen up; they couldn't raise enough money to maintain liquidity.

5. Falling house prices. After mortgages were difficult to get, demand for houses slumped, causing a fall in house prices have fallen and negative equity. However, due to a shortage of supply, UK house prices recovered much more quickly than abroad.

6. Bradford & Bingley was nationalised because it couldn't raise enough finance. The B&B had specialised in buy to let loans, which are particularly susceptible to falling house prices.

1. The fall in bank lending led to a fall in investment and lower consumer spending.

2. Falling house prices created a negative wealth effect, leading to a fall in consumer spending.

3. The recession led to a rapid rise in levels of government borrowing. In response, the UK and many Eurozone economies pursued a degree of fiscal austerity - cutting spending/higher taxes to try and reduce levels of government borrowing. But, austerity in a time of recession, led to further decline in aggregate demand.

Why did Credit crunch spread around the world?

The crisis started in US, but it spread around the world because

1. Foreign banks bought collateralised US debt. Many of these subprime mortgage loans were rebundled into CDOs and sold onto financial institutions around the world. For example, many British and European banks had exposure to these mortgage loans. Therefore, when defaults rose, European banks lost a lot of money.

2. Global Credit Crunch. The banking system is internationally linked. When some banks started to lose money they became reluctant to lend to other. Therefore the international banking system became affected and banks stopped lending to each other and therefore it became difficult for firms and consumers to borrow from banks. This decline in bank lending contributed to a fall in aggregate demand. Even countries which didn't have any exposure to subprime lending were affected by the global credit crunch.

Credit Default Options - illustrate boom and bust.

3. Global Trade. With the US entering recession, their demand for exports fell. So many countries experienced a decline in exports. This decline in global trade contributed to the global recession.

4. Confidence. Problems in the financial and banking sectors adversely affected the confidence of consumers and firms leading to lower growth

Who was to Blame for Credit Crunch?
Estate Agents/mortgage salesmen

Estate agents would be a populist target. However, I don't think they can be blamed for cause of the credit crunch. They may give bad advice, like trying to encourage people to buy at the peak of a boom, but, the price of houses are determined by market forces and not estate agents.
Banks for Making Poor Loans
In the boom years, banks made an increasing number of loans with little regard to bad credit. Banks found ways to increase the number of mortgage loans through strategies such as interest-only, 100% mortgages and lending to people with poor credit history. The result is that more homeowners are at risk of mortgage defaults. It is this rise in mortgage defaults that is leading to bank losses and reducing their willingness to lend.

UK banks could argue that they have been positively responsible compared to their American counterparts. UK banks will argue that without the US Subprime debacle, the mortgage industry wouldn't have collapsed like it has. Mortgage repossessions in the UK, although increasing by 40% in last 12 months, are still a small % of the total mortgage market.
Speculators
Rising house prices encouraged people to buy houses. In London, many houses were snapped up by foreigners, this contributed to the boom. It is in these areas where house prices are now falling rapidly. However, this merely exacerbated volatility of house prices rather than causing the credit crunch
The Government
It could be argued the government should have done more to regulate banks who were lending irresponsibly. The credit crunch has shown that financial institutions can easily abuse systems of self-regulation. The big question is whether government bail outs of banks in trouble has created moral hazard. - By preventing banks from going under, have the governments given tacit approval for future bad decision making?
Related

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Credit crunch explained - Economics Help

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The credit crunch refers to a sudden shortage of funds for lending, leading to a decline in loans available. A credit crunch can occur for various reasons: Sudden increase in interest rates (e.g.

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Gok Wan became an 'on-screen' Fashion Consultant, and had numerous TV shows aired by 2009. He was one of the only mainstream LGBTQ+ representations on British TV. It is argued among some members of the community that this kind of representation on its own can be harmful, as it reinforces a stereotype and doesn't celebrate more neutral personality traits in gay men. This could be the view held by John as he is generally more reserved than M. However, having such an out-and-proud person in the mainstream is refreshing and was certainly something new to the time.

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This review discusses how the London Restaurant experience was changing in 2009, and in the writer's opinion, not for the better.

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The Reveller Restaurants

Mark Hix at Hix Soho

Celebrity chef: Mark Hix at Hix Soho

Lizzie and Steve Parle at Dock Kitchen

Pop up, stay up: Lizzie and Steve Parle at Dock Kitchen

Tom Oldroyd at Polpo

Fine Italian: Tom Oldroyd at Polpo

A

small independent restaurant that opened at the start of this month, which I visited but - because this is the season of goodwill - decided not to review, distilled the faults that make me say 2009 has not been a great year for new restaurants.

The fact that fewer establishments than anticipated closed down may be a blessing, at least for the owners, but the real crunch, I suspect, is still to come.

Sitting in this new establishment at a bare table laid with just one knife and fork, having not been welcomed or given a menu or asked if we wanted to order a drink, then battled for our food - "Your starters are on the pass", we were told encouragingly 30 minutes before they arrived - eventually receiving mingy portions of overpriced, wonkily prepared, pretentious cooking, I looked around and everyone else seemed perfectly content.

I realise that I eat out with a different purpose from most, especially in December, but if we don't all demand better then the shortcuts, economies, slipshod practices, complacencies and contemptuous attitudes apt to be unleashed in difficult times will prevail. It's a "schoolmarm" thing to say but if people cooked more at home they would at least know how particular dishes ought to taste and of what they should be made. Let's make 2010 the year of constructive feedback - or complaint - in restaurants. But not all was doom and gloom.

THE RETURN OF SIR TERENCE
Of course the inventor not only of the restaurant but of the table and the chair still owns 51 per cent of the restaurant company now run by D&D but January saw the opening of a Conran mini-gastrodrome in Shoreditch comprising Albion café, Boundary restaurant, hotel rooms and, in clement weather, Boundary rooftop.

This project, in partnership with his wife Vicki and Peter Prescott, was followed in the summer by the restaurant Lutyens in Fleet Street. Design, just slightly more capricious than of old, was predictably sound and if it was the aim not to break new ground in the menus, it was achieved. The concept fast rolling out is the nostalgic Albion Caff, Bakery and Food Shop, which may have Carluccio's looking to its paninis. Albion Twitters when a tray of muffins is pulled from the oven and serves breakfast all day.

WE'LL ALWAYS GO OUT FOR AN ITALIAN
Fun is an elusive commodity when eating out, which is why we had a category for Fun in the London Restaurant Festival 2009 Restaurant Awards. The winner was Portobello Ristorante & Pizzeria in Notting Hill Gate, where Andrea Ippolito and Franco Perra, so happy to have their own establishment, want customers to feel the same way. A wood-fired oven delivers pizza by the metre and also patisserie cooked in the falling heat. If you don't fancy bread, tomatoes and melted cheese, meat and fish also figure.

Santino Busciglio, formerly chef at Number 12, also achieved his own place, the small and not quite perfectly formed Mennula, previously Gennaro Contaldo's Passione. His Sicilian menu is intriguing and mostly successful and every meal is considered an unfolding event - from arancini to cantucci.

A Mayfair constituency seemingly prepared to pay over the odds for Italian food in an upmarket setting was able to welcome Dolada, where chef Riccardo de Pra does send out fine cooking - try the deconstructed spaghetti carbonara - and the disconcertingly named Babbo, both in Albemarle Street.

YOU DO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, MISTER JONES
The Soho House Group has been added to Richard Caring's goody bag but founder Nick Jones continues to put his inimitable stamp on the enterprises with which he is associated. Inspiration for Pizza East in Shoreditch came from Pizzeria Mozza in LA, where Mario Batali is a partner.

A chef was briefly imported to demonstrate the sourdough base, a manager to teach what the Americans know about service - and dishes on the menu fizz with the pizzazz of some West Coast cooking. In a huge converted tea warehouse it comes together very well indeed.

From my own experience - David Sexton reviewed it here - and the tales of others, it seems that Dean Street Townhouse is doing a grand job of resting ye merry gentlemen (and women) in the all-day dining room.

INSTITUTIONAL FOOD
The development of reasonably noble food in museums and galleries - patron saint Oliver Peyton - continued this year with the arrival of Maria Elia, late of Delfina Studio Café, at the Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room, a benefit of the Whitechapel's expansion and refurbishment which was completed in April. Located in what was the Passmore Edwards Library, the small, clean-cut room is an ideal backdrop to her healthy, thoughtful cooking distinguished by culinary riffs on a chosen ingredient. At the Saatchi Gallery, Nigella Lawson acted as a taster for the menu of Gallery Mess created by the party catering company Rhubarb. Two summer visits found sprightly food.

Not a museum that is a public treasure, the Serpentine in Hyde Park cries out for an ace café. You could tell there was admirable thinking and planning behind Serpentine Bar & Kitchen opened by Benugo this summer but the execution soon after opening was wobbly. I will try it again when the snow lies deep and crisp and even.

UPPING THE STEAKS
I visited the US-import Palm in Belgravia in May during a very soft opening almost immediately before going on a holiday. It was a relief not to have to review the place as I thought the dishes were almost uniformly dreadful - over-sized, over-priced, over sweetened, unfortunately over here. But the urge among mankind (usually men) to go out for a steak seems to have kept it going. I hear it is quite busy. Insofar as I can involve myself in the subject, I prefer Argentinian grass-fed steaks, which, matured in vacuum packs on their way here, emerge with a fresh, perky flavour.

You can sniff the beckoning smell of steaks sizzling over charcoal as you approach Constancia in Bermondsey. This addition to the various Parrillas in London is a good one so long as you don't expect vegetarian dishes or even interesting side orders. Steak presented on your own parrillada with Chimichurri sauce is the thing and empañadas make a fine starter.

POP UP, STAY UP
A pop-up that stayed open due to public demand weeks beyond the scheduled six days was Pierre Koffmann cooking on the roof of Selfridges. With co-chefs of the calibre of Eric Chavot, previously at The Capital hotel, and Bruno Loubet soon to open at The Zetter in Clerkenwell, the event was a reminder of how rewarding very good food can be. Another pop-up, which started when Stevie Parle and Joseph Trivelli's Moveable Kitchen -www.themoveablekitchen.co.uk - took up residence in an extension of Tom Dixon's showroom in Portobello Dock, has pledged to stay put for a while as Dock Kitchen opens for brunch, lunch and also themed dinners on Thursdays and Fridays. Influence from The River Café, where Stevie has worked and Joe still does, is all to the benefit. There is spontaneity, creativity, involvement of fellow chef friends and a beguiling way of bringing back information booty garnered through travel.

SLEB CHEFS
In the (mercifully) falling market that is "celebrity" chefs, Mark Hix in Soho and the Galvin brothers in Spitalfields - who would probably protest the celebrity description - stand out this year. The tersely named Hix (doesn't everyone know who he is?) opened in premises that previously held the stylish but short-lived Japanese restaurant Aaya, an economical move on his part. Adherence to indigenous produce and local heroes in the world of suppliers carries on from Hix Oyster & Chop House in Smithfield but with a greater emphasis on seafood. The chef is Kevin Gratton, who worked with Mark at Le Caprice and Scott's. In the downstairs bar, a hangout for artist slebs, Nick Strangeway shakes unbeatable cocktails.

The beauty of the premises of Galvin La Chapelle - St Botolph's Hall - is electrifying. The food stays true to the French bourgeois cooking that Chris and Jeff Galvin espouse. With a wine list featuring Hermitage La Chapelle by the glass it is wonderful place for a treat and for less ambitious days there is Galvin Café de Luxe. Happy Christmas.

Where to find Fay's favourites

Albion Caff and Boundary Restaurant 2-4 Boundary Street, E2 (020 7729 1051) £50 & £130.
Lutyens Restaurant Bar & Cellar Rooms 85 Fleet Street, EC4
(020 7583 8385) £125.
Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria 7 Ladbroke Road, W11 (020 7221 1373) £85.
Mennula 10 Charlotte Street, W1 (020 7636 2833) £100.
Dolada 13 Albemarle Street, W1 (020 7409 1011) £150.
Babbo 39 Albemarle Street, W1 (020 3205 1099) £140.
Pizza East 56 Shoreditch High Street E1 (020 7729 1888) £80.
Dean Street Townhouse 69 Dean Street, W1 (020 7434 1775) £100.
Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 (020 7522 7896) £88.
Gallery Mess Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York HQ, SW3 (020 7730 8135) £80.
Serpentine Bar & Kitchen Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, W2 (020 7706 8114) £60.
Constancia 52 Tanner Street, SE1 (020 7234 0676) £90.
Dock Kitchen Portobello Dock, 342 Ladbroke Grove, W10 (tomdixon.net) £70(BYO). Lunch £25-40.
HIX 66 Brewer Street, W1 (020 7292 3518) £120.
Galvin La Chapelle 35 Spital Square, E1 (020 7299 0400) £125.
Prices estimate a meal for two with wine.

More About Food Reuse content Juice Liver Olive Onion Protein Rice Sandwiches Sushi Tomato

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Restaurants 2009: a year of double standards

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A small independent restaurant that opened at the start of this month, which I visited but - because this is the season of goodwill - decided not to review, distilled the faults that make me say 2009 has not been a great year for new restaurants.

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London’s Award Winning Gay Bar, Established in 1995 on Charing Cross Rd, moving in 2007 to our Flagship venue on Lisle Street. Ku Group is a group of independent LGBTQ+ (and hetero-friendly) bars based in Central London with a Passion to Serve.

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Girls Aloud were the biggest girl group in the country since the Spice Girls. Female pop-bands are an important staple of modern gay culture. The unapologetic, exaggerated femininity of bands like Girls Aloud seems to appeal to people who have suppressed elements of their personality and sexuality. As well as this, women are big target audiences for girl-bands, and because gay men often find comfort and support in women, straight or otherwise, means that they are exposed to things like this through association.

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Girls Aloud - The Promise (Live at The BRIT Awards, 2009)

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Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Video Version)

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The annual UK music charts for the 100 most popular singles in the years 2000 to 2007.

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Images of 2009 men's fashion...

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mens × trends magazine 2000s gabbana prada spring dolce cover early 2000s fashion trends fashion magazine cover

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The top 100 2009 lists the 100 most popular hits in the UK singles music charts in 2009.

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) rights in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have evolved dramatically over time.

Before and during the formation of the United Kingdom, Christianity and homosexuality were seen to clash. Same-sex sexual activity was characterised as "sinful" and, under the Buggery Act 1533, was outlawed and punishable by death. LGB rights first came to prominence following the decriminalisation of sexual activity between men, in 1967 in England and Wales, and later in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Sexual activity between women was never subject to the same legal restriction.

Since the turn of the 21st century, LGBT rights have increasingly strengthened in support. Some discrimination protections had existed for LGBT people since 1999, but were extended to all areas under the Equality Act 2010. A ban on LGBT individuals serving openly in the armed forces was officially lifted in 2016, though a policy of non-enforcement had been in place since 2000. The age of consent was equalised at 16, regardless of sexual orientation, in 2001. Having been introduced in the 1980s, Section 28, which prohibited the "promotion of homosexuality" by schools and local authorities, was repealed in 2003. Transgender people have had the ability to apply to change their legal gender since 2005. The same year, same-sex couples were granted the right to enter into a civil partnership, a similar legal structure to marriage, and also to adopt in England and Wales. Scotland later followed on adoption rights for same-sex couples in 2009, and Northern Ireland in 2013. Same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales, and Scotland in 2014, and in Northern Ireland in 2020.

Today, LGBT citizens have most of the same legal rights as non-LGBT citizens and the UK provides one of the highest degrees of liberty in the world for its LGBT communities, although the UK has recently fallen behind other counties in international rankings. In ILGA-Europe's 2015 review of LGBTI rights, the UK received the highest score in Europe, with 86% progress toward "respect of human rights and full equality" for LGBT people and 92% in Scotland alone. However by 2020 the UK had dropped to ninth place in the ILGA-Europe rankings with a score of 66% and the executive also expressed concern about a "hostile climate on trans rights fuelled by opposition groups". Meanwhile 86% of the UK agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center poll, and a 2017 poll showed that 77% of British people support same-sex marriage.

Around 2% of people identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in a 2017 UK national survey, although YouGov and Stonewall argue this is likely influenced by under-reporting, and estimate that the actual figure is between 5 and 7%. The number of transgender people in the UK is estimated to be between 300,000 and 500,000 (roughly 0.5%) as of 2009. LGBT rights organisations and very large LGBT communities have been built across the UK, most notably in Brighton, which is widely regarded as the UK's unofficial "gay capital", with other large communities in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Southampton which all have gay villages and host annual pride festivals.

English law identified anal sex as an offence punishable by hanging as a result of the Buggery Act 1533, which was pioneered by Henry VIII. The Act was the country's first civil sodomy law, such offences having previously been dealt with by the ecclesiastical courts. While it was repealed in 1553 on the accession of Mary I, it was re-enacted in 1563 under Elizabeth I. James Pratt and John Smith were the last two to be executed for sodomy in 1835.

Although section 61 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 removed the death penalty for homosexuality, male homosexual acts remained illegal and were punishable by imprisonment. The Labouchere Amendment, section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885, extended the laws regarding homosexuality to include any kind of sexual activity between males. Oscar Wilde was convicted under this law and sentenced to 2 years of penal labour. Conversely, lesbians were never acknowledged or targeted by legislation.

In Scotland, although there were no statutes making sex between men unlawful between 1424 and 1707, homosexual acts were punishable. One example is the commission for trial of Gavin Bell.

In the early 1950s, the police actively enforced laws prohibiting sexual behaviour between men. By the end of 1954, there were 1,069 gay men in prison in England and Wales, with an average age of 37. There were a number of high-profile arrests and trials, including that of scientist, mathematician, and war-time code-breaker Alan Turing, convicted in 1952 of " gross indecency". He accepted treatment with female hormones ( chemical castration) as an alternative to prison. Turing committed suicide in 1954. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in response to a petition, issued an apology on behalf of the British Government in 2009 for "the appalling way he was treated". In 1954, the trial and eventual imprisonment of Edward Montagu (the 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu), Michael Pitt-Rivers and Peter Wildeblood for committing acts of "homosexual indecency" caused uproar and led to the establishment of a committee to examine and report on the law covering "homosexual offences" appointed by Sir David Maxwell Fyfe and Sir Hugh Lucas-Tooth.

In October 1957, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, spoke in support of the Wolfenden Report, saying that "There is a sacred realm of privacy... into which the law, generally speaking, must not intrude. This is a principle of the utmost importance for the preservation of human freedom, self-respect, and responsibility." The first parliamentary debate on the Wolfenden Report was initiated on 4 December 1957 by Lord Pakenham. Of the seventeen peers who spoke in the debate, eight broadly supported the recommendations in the Wolfenden Report. Maxwell Fyfe, by then ennobled as Lord Kilmuir and serving as Lord Chancellor, speaking for the Government, doubted that there would be much public support for implementing the recommendations and stated that further research was required. The Homosexual Law Reform Society was founded on 12 May 1958, mainly to campaign for the implementation of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendations.

In 1965, Conservative peer Lord Arran proposed the decriminalisation of male homosexual acts (lesbian acts had never been illegal) in the House of Lords. This was followed by Humphry Berkeley in the House of Commons a year later, though Berkeley ascribed his defeat in the 1966 general election to the unpopularity of this action. However, in the newly elected Parliament, Labour MP Leo Abse took up the issue and the Sexual Offences Bill was put before Parliament in order to implement some of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendations after almost ten years of campaigning.

The Sexual Offences Act 1967 ( Welsh: Deddf Troseddau Rhywiol 1967; Scottish Gaelic: Achd Eucoirean Feise 1967) was accordingly passed and received royal assent on 27 July 1967 after an intense late-night debate in the House of Commons. It maintained general prohibitions on buggery and indecency between men, but provided for a limited decriminalisation of homosexual acts where three conditions were fulfilled: 1) the act had to be consensual, 2) the act had to take place in private and 3) the act could involve only people that had attained the age of 21. This was a higher age of consent than that for heterosexual acts, which was set at 16. Further, "in private" limited participation in an act to two people. This condition was interpreted strictly by the courts, which took it to exclude acts taking place in a room in a hotel, for example, and in private homes where a third person was present (even if that person was in a different room). These restrictions were overturned by the European Court of Human Rights in 2000.

The 1967 Act extended only to England and Wales. Organisations therefore continued to campaign for the goal of full equality in Scotland and Northern Ireland where all homosexual behaviour remained illegal. Same-sex sexual activities were legalised in Scotland on the same basis as in the 1967 Act, by section 80 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, which came into force on 1 February 1981. An analogous amendment was also made to the law of Northern Ireland, following the determination of a case by the European Court of Human Rights (see Dudgeon v. United Kingdom); the relevant legislation was an Order in Council, the Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, which came into force on 8 December 1982.

In 1979, the Home Office Policy Advisory Committee's Working Party report, "Age of Consent in Relation to Sexual Offences", recommended that the age of consent for same-sex sexual activities be reduced from 21 to 18, but no such legislation was enacted as a result.

In February 1994, Parliament considered reform of the law on rape and other sexual offences during the passage of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill. Conservative MP Edwina Currie proposed an amendment to equalise the age of consent of same-sex sexual activities to 16. Currie's amendment was defeated by 307 votes to 280. Those who supported it included Tony Blair, John Smith, Neil Kinnock, Paddy Ashdown and William Hague. Those against included David Blunkett and Ann Taylor. There were angry scenes outside the Palace of Westminster at the defeat of the amendment, when those involved in a demonstration organised by the group OutRage! clashed with police. Another amendment proposed by Sir Anthony Durant suggested lowering the age of consent to 18, which passed by 427 votes to 162, and supporters included Michael Howard and John Major. It was opposed by such MPs as John Redwood, Michael Heseltine and John Gummer. An amendment proposed by Simon Hughes which was intended to equalise the age of consent for homosexuals and heterosexuals to 17 was not voted upon. The bill as a whole was given a second reading in the Lords by 290 votes to 247. Lord Longford then sought to reintroduce 21 as the minimum age in the Lords, but this was defeated by 176 votes to 113. An amendment by the Deputy Labour Leader in the House of Lords, Lord MacIntosh of Haringey, that would have equalised the age of consent to 16, was rejected by 245 votes to 71.

In its decision of 1 July 1997, in the case of Sutherland v. United Kingdom, the European Commission of Human Rights found that Articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights were violated by a discriminatory age of consent, on the ground that there was no objective and reasonable justification for maintaining a higher minimum age for male homosexual acts. On 13 October 1997, the Government submitted to the European Court of Human Rights that it would propose a bill to Parliament for a reduction of the age of consent for homosexual acts from 18 to 16. On 22 June 1998, the Crime and Disorder Bill was put before Parliament. Ann Keen proposed amendments to lower the age of consent to 16. The House of Commons accepted these provisions with a majority of 207, but they were rejected by the House of Lords with a majority of 168. Subsequently, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill was introduced on 16 December 1998 and, again, the equalisation of the age of consent was endorsed on 25 January 1999 by the House of Commons, but was rejected on 14 April 1999 by the House of Lords. Those campaigning against the amendment claimed they were simply acting to protect children. Baroness Young, the leader of the campaign against the amendment, said, "Homosexual practices carry great health risks to young people."

The Government reintroduced the bill in 1999. With the prospect of it being passed by the Commons in two successive sessions of Parliament, the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 were available to enact the bill should the Lords have rejected it a third time. The Lords passed the bill at second reading, but made an amendment during committee stage to maintain the age of consent for buggery at 18 for both sexes. However, as the bill had not completed its passage through the Lords at the end of the parliamentary session on 30 November 2000, then Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin certified that the procedure specified by the Parliament Acts had been complied with. The bill received royal assent a few hours later, and was enacted as the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000. The provisions of the Act came into force throughout the UK on 8 January 2001, lowering the age of consent to 16. This Act also introduced, for the first time, an age of consent for lesbian sexual acts, as previously there had been no legislation concerning this.

On 1 May 2004, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 entered into force, which swept away all of the previous sex-specific legislation, including the 1967 Act, and introduced instead neutral offences. Thus, the previous conditions relating to privacy were removed, and sexual acts were viewed by the law without regard to the sex of the participants.

With the passage of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Northern Ireland, which had an age of consent of 17 regardless of one's sexual orientation, lowered the age to 16 in 2009 so it would match that of England, Wales, and Scotland.

On 31 January 2017, the Policing and Crime Act 2017 went into effect after being given royal assent. A section of the Act known as the " Alan Turing law" officially gave posthumous pardons to the thousands of homosexual men from England and Wales who had been convicted under those regions' old sodomy laws, and gave those still living the possibility to apply to have their conviction erased. Disregards have been available since 2012, removing the conviction from the person's criminal records. Scotland passed a more comprehensive law in June 2018, with pardons being automatic for those still living. The Northern Ireland Assembly passed a similar law in 2016, with it taking effect on 28 June 2018. Applications for pardons must be made with the Northern Irish Department of Justice.

According to , fewer than 200 pardons had been issued in England and Wales by July 2018.

In June 2019, it was revealed that only two men had sought pardons for historic gay sex offences in Northern Ireland and that they both failed to have their convictions overturned. Across the UK, over half of those who applied for a pardon did not have their convictions overturned.

In April 2017, the Parliament of the United Kingdom unanimously passed the Merchant Shipping (Homosexual Conduct) Act 2017. This private member's bill was drafted by Conservative MP John Glen. It repealed sections 146(4) and 147(3) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which was labelled as the UK's "last anti-gay law". It went into effect immediately after royal assent.

In May 2020, it was reported by Gay Star News a sculpture or statue to honour posthumously famous gay code-breaker during World War II Alan Turing by one of the foremost sculptors "threatens the historic landscape of King's College, Cambridge". That is according to Historic England, which is responsible for protecting many historic buildings and monuments throughout England.

In February 2020, the BBC reported a farmer in Yorkshire discovered a 200 year old diary that accepted homosexuality - long before legalisation in 1967 within England and Wales.

There was no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Britain until 2005, following the legalisation of civil partnerships under the passage of the Civil Partnership Act ( Welsh: Deddf Partneriaeth Sifil 2004; Scottish Gaelic: Achd Com-pàirteachasan Sìobhalta 2004) on 18 November 2004. Civil partnerships are a separate union which give most (but not all) of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage, but there are recognition issues in other countries and with the use of courtesy titles. Civil partnerships can take place on any approved premise in the UK and in approved religious venues in England and Wales since 2011 (though religious venues are not compelled), but cannot include religious readings, music or symbols. The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 5 December 2005.

The first civil partnership ceremony took place at 11:00 (GMT) on 5 December 2005 between Matthew Roche and Christopher Cramp at St Barnabas Hospice, Worthing, West Sussex. The usual 14-day waiting period was waived as Roche was suffering from a terminal illness. He died the next day. The first civil partnership ceremonies after the statutory waiting period then took place in Northern Ireland on 19 December, with ceremonies following the next day in Scotland and the day after that in England and Wales.

Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom has been the subject of wide debate since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain. Previous legislation in England and Wales had prevented same-sex marriage, including the Marriage Act 1949 which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, the Nullity of Marriage Act 1971 which explicitly banned same-sex marriages, and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 which reiterated the provisions of the Nullity of Marriage Act.

While civil partnerships were established nationwide, marriage law is a devolved matter in the United Kingdom and therefore the legislative procedure of same-sex marriage differs by jurisdiction. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which allows same-sex marriage in England and Wales, was passed by the UK Parliament in July 2013 and came into force on 13 March 2014, with the first same-sex marriages taking place on 29 March 2014. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, allowing same-sex marriage in Scotland, was passed by the Scottish Parliament in February 2014 and came into effect on 16 December 2014.

Same-sex marriages in the UK give all the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage and can be performed on approved premises. This also includes religious venues, providing the religious or belief body has opted-in. However, no religious or belief body is compelled to perform same-sex marriages; the Church of England and the Church in Wales are explicitly banned from doing so. For the purposes of the divorce of a same-sex marriage, the common law definition of adultery remains as sexual intercourse between a man and a woman only, although infidelity with a person of the same sex can be grounds for a divorce as "unreasonable behaviour." Non- consummation is also excluded as a ground for the annulment of a same-sex marriage.

Between 2012 and 2015, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted five times on same-sex marriage, and although it was passed by a slim majority on the fifth attempt, it was vetoed by the Democratic Unionist Party using the petition of concern. Following the inconclusive 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election and failure to form a Northern Ireland Executive by the deadline of 21 October 2019, provisions in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019, which was passed by the UK Parliament on 18 July 2019 and received royal assent on 24 July, mandated the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to pass regulations legalising same-sex marriage by 13 January 2020. The Secretary of State, Julian Smith signed the regulations on 19 December 2019. Same-sex marriage therefore became legal in Northern Ireland on 13 January 2020, with couples free to register their intent to marry and couples who had previously married elsewhere having their unions recognised from that date. The first same-sex marriage ceremony took place in Carrickfergus on 11 February 2020.

Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, Parliament provided that an application to adopt a child in England and Wales could be made by either a single person or a couple. The previous condition that the couple be married was dropped, thus allowing a same-sex couple to apply. The Lords rejected the proposal on one occasion before it was passed. Supporters of the move in Parliament stressed that adoption was not a "gay rights" issue but one of providing as many children as possible with a stable family environment rather than seeing them kept in care. Opponents raised doubts over the stability of relationships outside marriage, and how instability would impact on the welfare of adopted children. However, the law was successfully passed and went into effect on 30 December 2005. Similar legislation was adopted in Scotland, which came into effect on 28 September 2009. Northern Ireland followed suit in December 2013.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 was given royal assent on 13 November 2008. The legislation allows for lesbians and their partners (both civil and de facto) equal access to legal presumptions of parentage in cases of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or assisted/self insemination (other than at home) from the moment the child is born. The law also allows both partners to be identified on the child's birth certificate by the words "parent". The law came into force on 6 April 2009 and is not retroactive (it does not apply before that date). Parental orders for gay men and their partners since 6 April 2010 have been available for surrogacy arrangements.

Since 31 August 2009, legislation granting lesbians equal birth rights in England and Wales came into effect, meaning both can now be named on a child's birth certificate, amending the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987. The legislation was criticised by those who believe it was "damaging the traditional notion of a family". Stonewall Head of Policy and Research Ruth Hunt said the new law makes life easier for lesbian families and stated "Now lesbian couples in the UK who make a considered decision to start a loving family will finally be afforded equal access to services they help fund as taxpayers". Home Office Minister Lord Brett was full of praise in his comments:

This positive change means that, for the first time, female couples who have a child using fertility treatment have the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts to be shown as parents in the birth registration. It is vital that we afford equality wherever we can in society, especially as family circumstances continue to change. This is an important step forward in that process.

In 2016, 9.6% of all adoptions in England involved same-sex couples. This was an increase from 8.4% the previous year. In 2018, about 450 of the 3,820 adoptions (about 12%) in England involved same-sex couples.

In December 2002, the Lord Chancellor's office published a "Government Policy Concerning Transsexual People" document that categorically states that transsexualism "is not a mental illness."

Since 4 April 2005, as per the Gender Recognition Act 2004 ( Welsh: Deddf Cydnabod Rhywedd 2004; Scottish Gaelic: Achd Aithneachadh Gnè 2004), it has been possible for transgender people to change their legal gender in the UK, allowing them to acquire a new birth certificate, affording them full recognition of their acquired sex in law for all purposes. Transgender people must present evidence to a Gender Recognition Panel, which considers their case and issues a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC); they must have transitioned two years before a GRC is issued. It is not a requirement for sex reassignment surgery to have taken place, although such surgery will be accepted as part of the supporting evidence for a case where it has taken place. There is formal approval of medical gender reassignment available either on the National Health Service (NHS) or privately.

However, there have been concerns regarding marriages and civil partnerships. Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, transgender people who are married have been required to divorce or annul their marriage in order for them to be issued with a GRC. The Government chose to retain this requirement in the Act as effectively it would have legalised a small category of same-sex marriages. The Civil Partnership Act 2004 allowed the creation of civil partnerships between same-sex couples, but a married couple that includes a transgender partner cannot simply re-register their new status. They must first have their marriage dissolved, gain legal recognition of the new gender and then register for a civil partnership. This is like any divorce with the associated paperwork and costs.

With the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales, existing marriages will continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. The legislation also does not restore any of the marriages of transgender people that were forcibly annulled as a precondition for them securing a GRC and states that a GRC will not be issued unless the spouse of the transgender person has consented. If the spouse does not consent, the marriage must be terminated before a GRC may be issued.

Since 1 January 2021, UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom explicitly includes "gender reassignment" (alongside race, disability, religion, sex and sexual orientation) within its hate speech legal policies and procedures. This category is the protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010 and different from the "transgender" category for which LGBTers campaigned. This followed the announcement 22 Sept. 2020 by the Minister for Women and Equalities that the Equality Act 2010 would not be amended, while restating the importance of women's sex-based rights.

Intersex people in the United Kingdom face significant gaps, particularly in protection from non-consensual medical interventions, and protection from discrimination. Actions by intersex organisations aim to eliminate unnecessary medical interventions and harmful practices, promote social acceptance, and equality in line with Council of Europe and United Nations demands.

Regulations were introduced for discrimination protections on sexual orientation in employment on 1 December 2003, following the adoption of an EC Directive in 2000, providing for the prohibition of discrimination in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation. The Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 created certain legal protections for transgender people for the first time in British history. The Regulations banned discrimination against individuals undergoing "gender reassignment" in employment and vocational training. Similar legislation, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, was passed in Northern Ireland. The Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008 extended these protections to cover discrimination in goods, facilities and services

On 30 April 2007, the Sexual Orientation Regulations came into force, following the introduction of similar provisions in Northern Ireland in January 2007. They provided a general prohibition of discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of sexual orientation. Similar legislation had long previously been in force in respect of discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability and marital status. The introduction of the Regulations was controversial and a dispute arose between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales over exemptions for Catholic adoption agencies.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham declared his opposition to the Act, saying that the legislation contradicted the Catholic Church's moral values. Several Catholic adoption agencies requested exemption from sexual orientation regulations, and the adoption charity Catholic Care obtained a judgement on 17 March 2010 instructing the Charity Commission to reconsider its case. The Charity Commission again found no grounds to make an exception for Catholic Care, a decision upheld on appeal. In August 2011, the Upper Tribunal agreed to hear the charity's fourth appeal in the case. In November 2012, the appeal was dismissed by the Upper Tribunal, with the Tribunal ruling in favour of the Charity Commission. Catholic Care stated its intention to appeal the judgement.

In October 2007, the Government announced that it would seek to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act to create a new offence of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. This followed the creation of an offence on religious hatred that had proved controversial in 2006 (see Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006). Incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation was already illegal in Northern Ireland. Scotland[clarification needed ] enacted similar legislation in 2009, which also includes gender identity as a protected ground.

The Equality Act 2010 ( Welsh: Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010; Scottish Gaelic: Achd na Co-ionannachd 2010; Cornish: Reyth Parder 2010) received royal assent on 8 April 2010. The primary purpose of the Act was to codify the complicated and numerous array of Acts and Regulations, which formed the basis of anti-discrimination law in the UK including the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and three major statutory instruments protecting discrimination in employment on grounds of religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. This legislation has the same goals as the US Civil Rights Act 1964 and four major EU equal treatment directives, whose provisions it mirrors and implements. It requires equal treatment in access to employment as well as private and public services, regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender status, belief and age. The Act amended the Approved Premises (Marriage and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 to allow civil partnership ceremonies on religious premises in England and Wales. It also extended transgender rights, banning discrimination by schools on the grounds of gender reassignment.

Other initiatives have included the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights on 1 October 2007 which is tasked with working for equality in all areas and replaced the previous commissions dedicated to sex, race and disability alone; the setting up of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Advisory Group within the Department of Health; a provision of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 that a court must treat hostility based on sexual orientation as an aggravating factor for sentencing a person; guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service on dealing with homophobic crimes; and a commitment from the Government to work for LGBT rights at an international level.

The 1980s saw a setback for LGBT rights. The availability in the libraries of schools run by the Inner London Education Authority of a book considered by some to "promote" homosexuality led to protests and a campaign for new legislation. Consequently, the Local Government Act 1988 included a provision prohibiting "the intentional promotion of homosexuality" by any local authority and "the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." The provision was known as Section 28, and amended section 2A of the earlier Local Government Act 1986. Changes in the structure of local government since that date led to some confusion over the precise circumstances in which the new law applied, including the question of whether or not it applied at all in state schools.

Section 28 (called Section 2A in Scotland) was repealed in Scotland within the first two years of the existence of the Scottish Parliament, by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. A move to remove the provision in England and Wales was prevented following opposition in the House of Lords, led by Baroness Young. Following her death in 2002, it was repealed by the Labour Government in the Local Government Act 2003, which took effect on 18 November 2003. During the passage of the bill, no attempt was made to retain the section and an amendment seeking to preserve it using ballots was defeated in the House of Lords. In June 2009, David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, formally apologised for his party introducing the law, stating that it was a mistake and offensive to gay people.

Section 29AB of the Public Order Act 1986 states:

In this Part "hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation" means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to sexual orientation (whether towards persons of the same sex, the opposite sex or both)

Section 29JA, titled "Protection of freedom of expression (sexual orientation)", of the Act states the following:

(1) In this Part, for the avoidance of doubt, the discussion or criticism of sexual conduct or practices or the urging of persons to refrain from or modify such conduct or practices shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred.

(2) In this Part, for the avoidance of doubt, any discussion or criticism of marriage which concerns the sex of the parties to marriage shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred.

In July 2020, the UK government announced a new law to soon be introduced that amends the UK Football Offenses Act 1991 to explicitly ban homophobic chanting at football matches.

In November 2020, it was announced that BBC journalists are banned from attending UK pride marches - so as not to be seen as politically biased (even at a "personal" individual capacity).

Recorded reports of homophobic abuse in the UK increased from 5,807 in 2014-15 to 13,530 in 2018-19. The number of prosecutions fell from 1,157 to 1,058, which the National Police Chiefs' Council attributed to many cases with a lack of witnesses and evidence, including whether the assault was motivated by the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity or not. "Many of these non-violent offences present less evidential opportunities and victims often feel that there is a barrier between bringing the matter to court and prefer to make police aware of each offence", said a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Service. North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire saw their reports increase from 172 to 961 and 73 to 375, respectively. The West Yorkshire Police said this increase was in part due to "improvements in the way we record crime and the fact that many victims have the confidence to come forward".

LGBT people have been allowed to serve openly in Her Majesty's Armed Forces since 2000, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been forbidden since 2010. It is also forbidden for someone to pressure LGBT people to come out. All personnel are subject to the same rules against intolerance, bullying and sexual harassment, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The British military also recognises civil partnerships and grants same-sex couples the same rights to allowances and housing as opposite-sex couples.

The British military actively recruits LGBT people and have deployed recruiting teams to many Pride events: the Royal Navy advertises for recruits in gay magazines and has allowed gay sailors to hold civil partnership ceremonies on board ships and, since 2006, to march in full naval uniform at gay pride marches; British Army and Royal Air Force personnel could march but had to wear civilian clothes until 2008, now all military personnel are permitted to attend such marches in uniform.

The current policy was accepted at the lower ranks first, with many senior officers worrying for their troops without a modern acceptance of homosexuality that their personnel had grown up with. One Brigadier resigned but with little impact. Since the change, support at the senior level has grown. General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff (head of the Army), told members of the Army-sponsored Fourth Joint Conference on LGBT Matters that homosexuals were welcome to serve in the Army. In a speech to the conference in 2008, the first of its kind by any Army chief, General Sir Richard said that respect for LGBT officers and soldiers was now "a command responsibility" and was vital for "operational effectiveness."

The British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy now require all recruits to undergo Equality and Diversity training as part of their Military Annual Training Tests and stress tolerance, specifically citing homosexual examples in training videos, in line with Army, Navy and RAF Core Values and Standards, including "Respect for Others" and "Appropriate Behaviour."

In 2009, on the tenth anniversary of the change of law that permitted homosexuality in the Armed Forces, newspapers reported that the lifting of the ban had no perceivable impact on the operational effectiveness on the military. The anniversary was widely celebrated, including in the Army's in-house publication Soldier Magazine, with a series of articles including the July 2009 cover story and newspapers articles.

In 2015, following the fifteenth anniversary, the Ministry of Defence announced changes to its monitoring process for new recruits and added sexuality to their equal opportunities monitoring process.

Peel, Clarke and Drescher wrote in 2007 that only one organisation in Britain could be identified with conversion therapy, a religious organisation called "The Freedom Trust" (part of Exodus International): "whereas a number of organisations in the US (both religious and scientific/psychological) promote conversion therapy, there is only one in the UK of which we are aware". The paper reported that practitioners who did provide these sorts of treatments between the 1950s and 1970s now view homosexuality as healthy, and the evidence suggests that 'conversion therapy' is a historical rather than a contemporary phenomenon in Britain, where treatment for homosexuality has always been less common than in the US.

In 2009, a research survey into mental health practitioners in the United Kingdom concluded that "a significant minority of mental health professionals are attempting to help lesbian, gay and bisexual clients to become heterosexual. Given lack of evidence for the efficacy of such treatments, this is likely to be unwise or even harmful." Scientific American reported on this: "One in 25 British psychiatrists and psychologists say they would be willing to help homosexual and bisexual patients try to convert to heterosexuality, even though there is no compelling scientific evidence a person can willfully become straight", and explained that 17% of those surveyed said they had tried to help reduce or suppress homosexual feelings, and 4% said they would try to help homosexual people convert to heterosexuality in the future.

Conversion therapy in the UK has been described by the BBC as "a fiercely contested topic" and part of a larger " culture war" within the UK. In July 2017, the Church of England's General Synod passed a motion which criticised conversion therapy as "unethical, potentially harmful and having no place in the modern world" and called for "a ban on the practice of conversion therapy aimed at altering sexual orientation." In February 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding which had been issued by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) in October 2017 to provide "protection of the public through a commitment to ending the practice of 'conversion therapy' in the UK" was approved by the National Health Service (NHS). Stonewall has stated that all major counselling and psychotherapy bodies in the UK have joined the NHS in signing the Memorandum condemning conversion therapy.

In October 2017, a church in Anfield in Liverpool was exposed by a Liverpool Echo investigation for offering to "cure" gay people through a three-day starvation programme. Labour MP Dan Carden raised the issue in Parliament, calling for a legislative ban on conversion therapies, which "have no place in 21st Century Britain".

In March 2018, a majority of representatives in the European Parliament passed a resolution in a 435-109 vote condemning conversion therapy and urging European Union member states to ban the practice. A report released by the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights stated that the UK was one of a few areas in the EU which "explicitly banned LGBTI conversion therapies." In July 2018, the UK Government announced as part of their LGBT Action Plan that they will "bring forward proposals" to ban conversion therapy at the legislative level.

On 20 July 2020, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his support for banning conversion therapy throughout the U.K., stating "On the gay conversion therapy thing, I think that's absolutely abhorrent. It has no place in civilized society. It has no place in this country."

In September 2020, religious leaders from every major faith came together in 'a rare show of unity' to urge the UK government to legislate a ban on conversion therapy.

The Public Sector Equality Duty provision of the Equality Act 2010 requires that information regarding bullying based on, among other things, LGBT identity be published and that solutions be found concerning how to counter this issue. The first information regarding schools and pupils located in England and English-governed public authorities in Scotland and Wales were published on 6 April 2012. In 2013, Ofsted published guidelines concerning how to counter homophobic and transphobic bullying at schools in England. Part of these guidelines included sex and relationships education for LGBT pupils.

On 12 February 2018, the Church of England's Education Office published a policy endorsing sex education which includes, among other things, LGBT education. Concerning sexuality, the policy states "sex education should include an understanding that all humans are sexual beings and that sexual desire is natural. Pupils should be taught that humans express their sexuality differently and that there is diversity in sexual desire". The policy also states that "pupils must be allowed to explore questions of identity and how we value our own identity and the uniqueness of other people. PSHE [Personal, Social, Health and Economic education] must help pupils recognise their true identity, and teach them that our media-framed, market-driven culture that often leads to body image anxiety can be challenged. This issue is the focus of the Bishop of Gloucester's #liedentity campaign which aims to challenge negative body image and encouraging young people to look within to discover true value and beauty."

This followed reports of some religious schools deliberately avoiding the issue, most notably an Orthodox Jewish school in north London which in 2018 had removed all references to the homosexual victims of Nazi persecution throughout their textbooks. According to the Department of Education, faith-based schools would no longer have a right to opt-out of sex education lessons. In September 2018, the UK's Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, agreed to comply with this new policy and published guidelines on how to teach LGBT sex education in British Jewish schools.

In October 2018, The Sunday Times reported that the British Government had decided to grant exemptions to private schools from LGBT-inclusive education. In November 2018, however, both the PSHE Association and Sex Education Forum published a policy road-map which stated, among other things, that "the law requires that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is to be taught in all secondary schools in England, and that Relationships Education is to be taught in all primary schools in England." The road-map also detailed 10 steps which will be used to enforce the policy, and also stated that "Health Education will also be mandatory in all government funded schools, which includes content on puberty." In February 2019, the Department of Education enacted a statutory guidance policy which will assist schools in England with PSHE when it becomes compulsory in 2020.

A measure to make PSHE compulsory received approval from the House of Lords in April 2019. The Department for Education (DfE) published final statutory guidance for teaching Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education in June 2019. The guidelines, which were also published by the House of Commons, require, among other things, acknowledgement of England's laws concerning LGBT rights, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage, and the protection of the "physical and mental well-being" of LGBT children. Despite not mandatory until September 2020, schools in England will be encouraged to enact the new PSHE curriculum starting in September 2019.

Wales similarly announced new regulations about sex education in May 2018, which will also discuss LGBT issues in schools. The regulations, expected to come into force in 2022, will be mandatory from Year 7 (age 11-12).

The Scottish National Party's 2016 manifesto supports sex education classes, as well as "equality training" for teachers, that would cover LGBT issues. In November 2018, the Scottish Government announced the implementation of LGBT-inclusive education in the Scottish school curriculum. The move was welcomed by LGBT activists who cited studies that have found that about 9 in 10 LGBT Scots experience homophobia at school, and 27% reported they had attempted suicide after being bullied.

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education Children's Services and Skills) assesses the inclusion of LGBT people in policies and the curriculum.

The Homosexual Law Reform Society, founded on 12 May 1958, in response to the findings of the Wolfenden Report was one of the first LGBT groups in the UK. Nowadays, Stonewall exists as the largest LGBT equality organisation in the UK and Europe.

LGBT people have been serving openly in politics since the 1970s. The first openly lesbian MP was Maureen Colquhoun ( Labour Party, MP 1974-79), who was outed in 1976.

Following the 2019 general election, an estimated 54 openly LGBT MPs were elected to Parliament, of whom 24 were Conservative, 19 Labour 10 SNP and Layla Moran from the Liberal Democrats, who became the first ever Pansexual MP.

LGBT people are also allowed to serve openly in police and, in 1990, the Lesbian and Gay Police Association (LAGPA), now the Gay Police Association (GPA), was founded.

There are also large LGBT communities most noted in Birmingham ( Birmingham Gay Village), Blackpool, Brighton ( LGBT community of Brighton and Hove), Liverpool ( LGBT culture in Liverpool), London ( Old Compton Street) and Manchester ( Canal Street), who all host annual pride festivals.

Many pride festivals are hosted in the UK every year. The first gay marches were in London in 1970, followed by the debut of the UK Gay Pride Rally there in 1972. Pride in London is the biggest and oldest festival, and has been organised annually since. Pride festivals are very popular summer events in major cities, and have expanded to smaller communities in recent years.

On the 5th anniversary of the passing of the same-sex marriage referendum, Amnesty International, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Rainbow Project announced the first mass demonstration in Belfast, Northern Ireland, protesting against the failure of the UK government in delivering full same-sex marriage rights. People wanting to convert their civil union into marriage are unable to do so.

According to Juris Lavrikovs from ILGA-Europe, the Council of Europe's European Court of Human Rights has been a positive force for LGBT rights, especially with regards to decriminalising same-sex consensual activity, barring discrimination against transgender individuals in employment, equalising the age of consent, enabling LGBT people to serve openly in the military, allowing transgender people the right to marry, employment equality and the including pension right for transgender individuals.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the Percentage of the UK population identifying as Gay, lesbian or bisexual increased from 1.5% in 2012 to 2.0% in 2017. There are 1.1 million people identifying as LGB in UK. The 16 to 24 age group were the most likely to identify as LGB in 2017 (4.2%).

A 2010 Integrated Household Survey estimated 1.5% of people in the UK identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual - far lower than previous estimates of 5-7%. Interpreting the statistics, an Office for National Statistics (ONS) spokesperson said, "Someone may engage in sexual behaviour with someone of the same sex but still not perceive themselves as gay." According to YouGov, however, studies such as that of the Integrated Household Survey underestimate the true proportion of the population that is LGBT as they use a face-to-face methodology, and non-heterosexual people are less willing to disclose their sexual orientation to an interviewer. YouGov itself estimates, based on its panel, which was inquired via an online questionnaire, that the proportion of LGBT people in the UK is 7%. It is also estimated that the trans population of the UK is between 300,000 and 500,000 people, but Stonewall concludes that it is hard to define the LGBT population of the UK because some LGBT people are not out.

In 1993, Stonewall conducted a survey of gay men and lesbians at work where they found two-thirds of respondents hid their sexuality at work and only 11% of respondents never hid their sexual orientation in the workplace. A follow up survey done in 2008 found that 20% of gay and lesbian people had experienced bullying at work.

Attitudes towards homosexuality amongst the British public have become more tolerant over time; according to the British Social Attitudes Survey, in 1983 approximately 50% to 70% of respondents of the three major political parties (Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat) regarded homosexuality as "always wrong" or "mostly wrong" and in 1993 opposition to homosexuality was reported to have slightly increased amongst all parties. However, by 2003 attitudes had become more tolerant, with 25% to 50% of respondents regarding homosexuality as always or mostly wrong and by 2013, only around 20% to 35% of respondents in each party felt the same way. Liberal Democrat respondents tended to be less likely to regard homosexuality as wrong than Labour or Conservative respondents across each survey.

An illustration of social attitudes towards homosexuality in the UK was provided in May 2007 in a survey by YouGov. The poll indicated that legislation outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was supported by 90% of British citizens. It also showed positive public perceptions of gay people in particular, but recognised the extent to which prejudice still exists. A poll in June 2009 conducted by Populus for reported that the majority of the public supported same-sex marriage; 61% of respondents agreed that "Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships". There were few differentials by partisanship.

A more recent opinion poll, conducted in 2017 by Pew Research Center, found that 77% of the British public were in favour of same-sex marriage. Support had increased to 85% according to the 2019 Eurobarometer, which polled all members states of the European Union on the question. The EU average was 69%.

In 2017, 108,000 people participated in the National LGBT Survey, making it one of the biggest survey of LGBT people in the world. LGBT people were found to be less satisfied with life compared to the wider UK population, with trans satisfaction notably lower. 68% of respondents said they avoided holding hands with their same-sex partner in public. 5% of respondents had been offered conversion therapy, with 2% undergoing such therapies. The findings from the National LGBT Survey have been used to inform a 75-point LGBT Action Plan to address the key issues identified, including bringing forward proposals to ban conversion therapy in the UK.

LGBT rights in:

Same-sex sexual activity

Gender recognition

Recognition of same-sex unions

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex adoption

Military service

Official pardon

Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation)

Anti-discrimination (gender identity)

Other

England and Wales

Legal since 1967; age of consent equalised in 2001

Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004

Civil partnership since 2005

Legal since 2005

Since 2000

Section 28 banning "promotion of same-sex relationships as a pretend family relationship" repealed in 2003

Legal since 1981; age of consent equalised in 2001

Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004

Civil partnership since 2005

Since 2000

Section 2A banning "promotion of same-sex relationships as a pretend family relationship" repealed in 2000

Northern Ireland

Legal since 1982; age of consent equalised in 2001

Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004

Civil partnership since 2005

Since 2000

N/A

LGBT rights in:

Same-sex sexual activity

Gender recognition

Recognition of same-sex unions

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex adoption

Military service

Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation)

Anti-discrimination (gender identity)

Since 2012 in Guernsey, 2016 in Alderney and 2020 in Sark[190]

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 1992; age of consent equalised in 2006

Under the Gender Recognition Act 2009[193]

Civil partnership since 2011

Legal since 2016

Legal since 2011

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 1990; age of consent equalised in 2006

Under the Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010[195]

Civil partnership since 2012

Legal since 2012

UK responsible for defence

LGBT rights in:

Same-sex sexual activity

Recognition of same-sex unions

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex adoption

Military service

Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation)

Anti-discrimination (gender identity)

Legal since 2001

UK responsible for defence

UK responsible for defence

Legal since November 2018 and between May 2017 and May 2018

Legal since 2015

UK responsible for defence

British Antarctic Territory

Legal

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 2001

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 2001
(Age of consent discrepancy)[211]

Legal since 2020

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 1989

Legal since 2017

UK responsible for defence

Legal since 1993; age of consent equalised in 2012

Legal since 2016[216][217][218]

Legal since 2014

UK responsible for defence

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Legal

Legal since 2017[224][225][226]

Legal since 2017

UK responsible for defense

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Legal

UK responsible for defence

Please note: when a jurisdiction is not specified, the right applies to the whole of the United Kingdom. Does not include the Overseas Territories and the Crown dependencies

Right

Yes/No

Notes

Same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity legal

Since 1967 (England and Wales)
Since 1981 (Scotland)
Since 1982 (Northern Ireland)

Official pardon

Since 2017 (England and Wales)[231]
Since 2018 (Northern Ireland)
Since 2019 (Scotland)[185]

Disregards available

Since 2012 (England and Wales)[232]
Since 2018 (Northern Ireland)[233]
Since 2019 (Scotland)[185]

Same-sex relationships

Civil partnerships for same-sex couples[note 1]

Since 2005

Civil partnerships in religious venues

Since 2011 (England and Wales)
Since 2014 (Scotland)
Since 2020 (Northern Ireland)[234]

Civil and religious same-sex marriage[note 2]

Since 2014 (England and Wales, and Scotland)[50][52]
Since 2020 (Northern Ireland)[234]

Adoption and family planning

Joint and stepchild adoption for LGBT persons and same-sex couples

Since 2005 (England and Wales)
Since 2009 (Scotland)[63]
Since 2013 (Northern Ireland)[65]

Same-sex couples as both parents on a birth certificate

Since 2009

Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples

Banned for heterosexual couples as well

Military service

Transgender rights

Right to change legal gender without having to end marriage[note 3]

Since 2014 (England and Wales, and Scotland)
Since 2020 (Northern Ireland)

Discrimination protections

Anti-discrimination laws in all areas on sexual orientation and gender identity (including employment, goods and services, housing, etc.)

Since 2010 (England and Wales, and Scotland)[93]
Only limited protections for gender identity in Northern Ireland

Laws against hate speech based on sexual orientation

Since 2004 (Northern Ireland)
Since 2008 (England and Wales)
Since 2009 (Scotland)[91]

Laws against hate speech based on gender identity

Since 2009 (Scotland)
No laws exist (England and Wales, and Northern Ireland)[91]

Laws against inciting hatred on sexual orientation through an aggravating circumstance

Since 2004 (Northern Ireland)
Since 2008 (England and Wales)
Since 2009 (Scotland)[91]

Laws against inciting hatred on gender identity through an aggravating circumstance

Since 2009 (Scotland)
No laws exist (England and Wales, and Northern Ireland)[91]

LGBT sex education and relationships taught in schools

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, which includes sex and relationships, will become compulsory in England in September 2020,[235] though schools in England will be encouraged to make it compulsory starting in September 2019.[159]
Compulsory for all schools in Scotland from 2018,[163] and Wales from 2022[236]
Schools in England must comply with the Equality Act 2010's Public Sector Equality Duty (2012) which includes LGBT equality
Ofsted assesses the inclusion of LGBT people in policies and the curriculum

MSMs allowed to donate blood

Announced December 2020, effective from summer 2021, without deferral period. [237]

Conversion therapy

Pending at legislative level.[238] Banned by the NHS and all major counselling and psychotherapy bodies in Great Britain (but not in Northern Ireland).[134]

Immigration rights

Recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity for asylum requests

Guidelines not applied consistently
Some cases recognised since 1999 including that of HJ and HT v Home Secretary
Plans for guidance on asylum claims brought on by sexual orientation but not gender identity

Browne, Katherine, and Catherine J. Nash. "Resisting LGBT rights where 'we have won': Canada and Great Britain." Journal of Human Rights (2014) 13#3 pp: 322-336.

Clements, Ben. "Partisan Attachments and Attitudes towards Same-Sex Marriage in Britain." Parliamentary Affairs (2014) 67#1 pp: 232-244.

Cohler, Deborah. Citizen, Invert, Queer: Lesbianism and War in Early Twentieth-Century Britain (2010)

Cook, Matt et al. A Gay History of Britain: Love and Sex Between Men Since the Middle Ages (2007)

Goldberg, Suzanne B. "Open Service and Our Allies: A Report on the Inclusion of Openly Gay and Lesbian Servicemembers in U.S. Allies' Armed Forces," William & Mary Journal of Women & Law (2011) v 17 pp 547-90 online

Gunn, Drewey Wayne. Gay Novels of Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth, 1881-1981: A Reader's Guide (2014)

Robinson, Lucy. Gay Men and the Left in Post-War Britain: How the Personal Got Political (2008)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) rights in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have evolved dramatically over time. Before and during the formation of the United Kingdom, Christianity and homosexuality were seen to clash. Same-sex sexual activity was characterised as "sinful" and, under the Buggery Act 1533 , was outlawed and punishable by death.

# data[].attributes.body
- Labour Government under Gordon Brown.
- In March, The Bank of England injects £75billion into the UK economy.
- Swine Flu pandemic.
- British unemployment is at a 14 year high.
- As of 2005, LGBTQ+ couples in England and Wales can have civil partnership and have rights to adopt. Scotland follow in 2009.
- Research shows that 1 in 25 mental health professionals in the UK would be willing to "help" gay, lesbian and bisexual clients to convert them to 'heterosexuality' despite lack of scientific evidence.

# data[].attributes.body
- He wrote doctor foster which is also about cheating/ love triangles.

- When the play was written he was probably around 30 – same age as characters?

- He isn’t gay.

- ‘Cock’ won the Olivier Award for outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre.

- Mike is married (no specification of how long)

- He is quite a controversial writer.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Facts about what exists and has happened before the action of the scene begins.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Facts about what exists and has happened before the action of the scene begins.

# data[].attributes.body
- John is cooking
- It's evening time
- John and m have been doing separate things that day, "Missed you today"
- John and M live together
- They have been together for 7 Years
- During the first time jump, we learn that they have been on a break, and that John has just arrived to see M
- He has also bought John some teddy bears

# data[].attributes.headline
2. Questions about what exists and has happened before the action of the scene begins. 

# data[].attributes.subject
2. Questions about what exists and has happened before the action of the scene begins. 

# data[].attributes.body
- What have they done with their day? Where have they been?
- Where do they live?
- How did they meet?
- What're their family/friend relationships like?
- How old are they?
- What time of year is it?

# data[].attributes.headline
3. Facts about the immediate circumstances of the scene. 

# data[].attributes.subject
3. Facts about the immediate circumstances of the scene. 

# data[].attributes.body
- They're arguing
- M is pestering John
- John has left M (they've taken a break) and has come back.
- John is still strongly sexually attracted to M.
- John has slept with a woman.
- M still has concussion, perhaps John does not normally cook but is looking after M

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Facts about what exists and has happened before the action of the play (first scene) begins.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Facts about what exists and has happened before the action of the play (first scene) begins.

# data[].attributes.body
M was hit by a car
M and John are in a relationship

# data[].attributes.headline
2. Questions about what exists and has happened before the action of the play/first scene begins. 

# data[].attributes.subject
2. Questions about what exists and has happened before the action of the play/first scene begins. 

# data[].attributes.body
-What are the details of the accident?
- How long ago was the accident? (Perhaps not long ago as he is still concussed?)
- Where did John go that day for M to miss him?
- How long have they been together? (We later learn it to be 7 years)

# data[].attributes.headline
4. Questions about the immediate circumstances of the scene. 

# data[].attributes.subject
4. Questions about the immediate circumstances of the scene. 

# data[].attributes.body
- Do they always argue?
- Why does John not want this relationship anymore?
- Why did john sleep with someone else?
- Why does M accept his apology and help John?
- What else happened in the gap of time between when John left and came back?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Push your dainty stilettos to the back of your wardrobe. Heels have become edgy with gladiators and ankle booties topping the charts. From metallics to neutrals, the glads aren't walking away. And your booties can be opentoed, studded and zippered.
Tight Call
LEGGINGS
Pants are things of last year. Even the staunchest non-believers have started warming up to leggings and tights. Though the plain black ones are almost a classic now, the newest babies are patterned--a new spin on fishnets. From leather to denim to leopard-printed and neon-coloured, if you're up to them, slip them on.
The Bling Factor
SEQUINS AND STUDS
The studs will make you channel your inner rocker. Men and women can wear these on their vest, T-shirt or boots. Sequins are for the ladies. Designer Monisha Jaising's sequinned numbers have been the most coveted with Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif strutting in these.
All in One
JUMPSUITS
Call it what you will--playsuit, jumpsuit or onesie--this '80s favourite only gets better. Dress it up in satin like Gauri and Nainika or dress it down. It's a tricky piece of clothing. So know which one looks best on you.
All Tied Up
SCARVES
Give your look a botox shot with scarves. But they've always been around, you say? They have. But it's only now that they come in all possible sizes, shapes and colours. Try the extra long ones to keep you warm, knot the shorter ones to add some fun. Shah Rukh Khan's taken quite a liking to the skull patterned and kefiyah inspired ones by Alexander McQueen. There's no reason you shouldn't.
Man-nerism
BOYFRIEND BLAZER
You don't really have to steal your boy's blazer. Get one that looks like his. The shoulders on the oversized blazer aren't as exaggerated as in the '80s. The sleeves are long but look best when rolled. Throw this over anything--a sheath dress, jeans, shorts and even a tulip skirt.
Raw Appeal
DENIM
The blue jean gets an overhaul. It remains a closet staple but this year, it's ripped, studded and extreme acid washed. The boyfriend jean, pegged at the ankle, also hovers around. Kareena Kapoor and Shruti Hassan have already been channelling the ripped jean look.
Michelle Effect
BELTS
Skinny, broad or corseted, belts were biding their time on the sidelines till Michelle Obama made them a wardrobe staple. You can make a statement with an embellished wrap.
High and Mighty
BOOTS
There's nothing subtle about these towering boots. Though winter won't last long, indulge in these dangerously high boots that extend to your knees and sometimes all the way up to your thighs
Bold and Beautiful
ACCESSORIES
This year will all be about making the right fashion statement. But that doesn't mean bling abuse. Keep your clothes well cut and clean but go bold with one piece of eye-catching jewellery. A statement necklace in metallic and enamel or an encrusted bib necklace adds instant glamour.You can also slip your arm into a jewelled cuff.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Push your dainty stilettos to the back of your wardrobe. Heels have become edgy with gladiators and ankle booties topping the charts. From metallics to neutrals, the glads aren't walking away. And your booties can be opentoed, studded and zippered. Tight CallLEGGINGS Pants are things of last year.