It was like being erased while you’re still alive.
Claire G, one of the project interviewees
November 2023 marked the twentieth anniversary of the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales. Section 28 blighted the lives of LGBTQ+ people across the 15 years it was in force and its afterlives continue to be felt to this day. Through oral histories with LGBTQ+ people in the South West, this project aims to recover and record the experiences of those most directly affected by this legislation – and to raise awareness of the legacies of Section 28 today.
In November 2023, we used those oral histories to launch an exhibition on Section 28 and its afterlives in the South West, putting the voices of LGBTQ+ people front and centre. The exhibition has been travelling ever since, and has been seen by hundreds. Together with collage workshops in which participants transform homophobic historic headlines into LGBTQ+-affirming messages of pride, anger, and grief, we’re on a mission to ensure that Section 28 and those who lived through it are not forgotten. If you want to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.
You can also follow us and see what’s happening through our Instagram: @s28afterlives
