Queer Voices in Post-War Scotland : Male Homosexuality, Religion and Society

This book examines the experiences of gay and bisexual men who lived in Scotland during an era when all homosexual acts were illegal, tracing the historical relationship between Scottish society, the state and its male homosexual population using a combination of oral history and extensive archival research. Scotland decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting male adults in private in 1980, 13 years after similar legislation in England and Wales. This begs the question: why was Scotland different? Queer Voices in Post-War Scotland charts the experiences of gay and bisexual men in Scotland who from within the shadows of criminality forged identities and relationships despite the apparent opprobrium of the state, religious institutions and wider society. Through the use of extensive archival research and oral histories contributed by gay and bisexual men this book charts the history of male homosexuality within Scottish society from the 19th century until decriminalization occurred in 1980 "Scotland decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting male adults in private in 1980, 13 years after similar legislation in England and Wales. This begs the question: why was Scotland different? Queer Voices in Post-War Scotland charts the experiences of gay and bisexual men in Scotland who from within the shadows of criminality forged identities and relationships despite the apparent opprobrium of the state, religious institutions and wider society. Through the use of extensive archival research and oral histories contributed by gay and bisexual men this book charts the history of male homosexuality within Scottish society from the 19th century until decriminalization occurred in 1980"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-12 From Sodomy to Same-Sex Desire....Pages 13-38 Wolfenden and Scotland....Pages 39-52 Moments in Time: Growing up Queer in Post-War Scotland....Pages 53-88 The Scottish Minorities Group....Pages 89-116 In Sickness and in Health....Pages 117-136 God, Sin and Sodomy: Reconciling Religious Identities and Sexual Identities....Pages 137-157 From Crime to Community?....Pages 158-186 Non-Heterosexual Men, Scotland and Homosexual Law Reform....Pages 187-191 Back Matter....Pages 192-224