'Gay sex kits': lessons in the history of British sex education

Glyn Davis

doi:10.1080/09528822.2020.1861872

'Gay sex kits': lessons in the history of British sex education

Glyn Davis^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Film Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This article details the genesis, making, release and reaction to ‘Homosexuality: A Fact of Life’, an educational tape-slide kit produced by the Tyneside branch of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in the late 1970s. The kit is situated in relation to the history of sex education in Britain and beyond, and compared to other subsequent examples of educational materials that have caused a furore: the book Jenny Lives With Eric and Martin and its connection to Section 28, and the No Outsiders programme that generated protests in 2019. It is argued that the tactics adopted by the makers of ‘Homosexuality: A Fact of Life’ could serve as a valuable toolbox for future activists.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	145-160
Number of pages	16
Journal	Third Text
Volume	35
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09528822.2020.1861872
Publication status	Published - 18 Jan 2021

Keywords

Tape-slide
LGBTQ history
LGBTQ politics
Campaign for Homosexual Equality
Sex education
Section 28
Schooling
No Outsiders
Homosexuality: A Fact of Life

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10.1080/09528822.2020.1861872

Davis_2021_TT_Gay_Sex_Kits_FINAL
Copyright © 2021 Third Text. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/09528822.2020.1861872
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Cite this

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title = "'Gay sex kits': lessons in the history of British sex education",

abstract = "This article details the genesis, making, release and reaction to {\textquoteleft}Homosexuality: A Fact of Life{\textquoteright}, an educational tape-slide kit produced by the Tyneside branch of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in the late 1970s. The kit is situated in relation to the history of sex education in Britain and beyond, and compared to other subsequent examples of educational materials that have caused a furore: the book Jenny Lives With Eric and Martin and its connection to Section 28, and the No Outsiders programme that generated protests in 2019. It is argued that the tactics adopted by the makers of {\textquoteleft}Homosexuality: A Fact of Life{\textquoteright} could serve as a valuable toolbox for future activists.",

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author = "Glyn Davis",

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'Gay sex kits': lessons in the history of British sex education

Abstract

Keywords

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