We call on the Government to launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988) which specified that Local Authorities could not intentionally promote, through material or teaching, homosexuality or same-sex relationships as a 'pretended family relationship’
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Section 28 created a very hostile environment for young people and staff in secondary schools from its introduction in 1988 until it was finally repealed in 2003. Students were unable to get support at school and staff were forced to hide their identity, fearing they would be sacked. This hostile culture continued after repeal and impacts LGBTQ people throughout their life.
A public inquiry is needed to assess the impact this had and to what extent the culture it created still exists today.
Tuesday 18th August 2026
The government recognises the harm done by Section 28. A previous Labour government repealed it, and this government is focused on advancing LGBT+ equality rather than a public inquiry.
The government recognises the devastating impact of Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988) on LGBT+ people in the UK. There is no place for discriminatory legislation in the UK, where all people, no matter their background or LGBT+ identity, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and to enjoy full inclusion in society.
Section 28 was a discriminatory clause introduced by the Conservative government in the Local Government Act (1988) that prohibited local authorities from promoting homosexuality itself, as well as the promotion of any form of LGBT+ family unit. In practice, it created a culture of fear, whereby LGBT+ people faced higher levels of abuse and could not live freely as themselves. Young people who were questioning their sexuality were isolated and unable to get the support they needed. It discouraged professionals from sharing clear information about sexuality, relationships and sexual health and led to local authorities withdrawing funding from LGBT+ organisations providing education and sport.
Section 28 was repealed in Scotland through the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 and in England and Wales through the Local Government Act 2003.
The repeal of Section 28 was one of many legislative changes made to promote LGBT+ equality under the 1997-2010 government. On 30 November 2000, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 reduced the age of consent for homosexual acts to 16, bringing parity with heterosexual acts. The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003) were the first time LGB workplace protections were enshrined in UK law. These regulations made it illegal to discriminate against LGB people in the workplace or vocational training. The Civil Partnership Act 2004 established a legal framework for the legal recognition of same sex couples, and gave access to rights previously only afforded to heterosexual married couples. The UK’s Gender Recognition Act 2004 pioneered legal gender recognition without requiring sterilisation or surgery. The Adoption and Children Act came into force in 2005, allowing same-sex couples to adopt. The Equality Act 2010 brought together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single act, simplifying equality law and helping Britain become a fairer society.
With the protections these offer, we have seen greater acceptance of LGBT+ people in public life and acknowledgement of the harmful impact of discriminatory policies such as Section 28. David Cameron, the former leader of the opposition, publicly apologised for Section 28 in 2009, and during a Westminster Hall Debate in 2023, held on the 20th anniversary of the repeal of Section 28, MPs from all parties came together to reflect on its historic impact and the chilling effect it had.
This does not mean that the work is over. This government continues to work to fulfil the commitments set out in our 2024 manifesto, rather than focusing on an inquiry into the past. This government has published inclusive, age-appropriate Relationship, Health and Sex Education statutory guidance for schools, encouraging schools to teach about healthy relationships, including same-sex relationships. This government has delivered on the commitment to equalise all existing strands of hate crime, successfully making them aggravated offences through the Crime and Policing Act 2026. This government is working to improve LGBT+ people’s access to healthcare, including commissioning a review by Dr Brady, the National LGBT+ Healthcare Advisor, to provide expert insight and recommendations to reduce health inequalities. This government has also published a draft Bill to deliver a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
In light of the above we do not believe that establishing a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 is the right approach, but we do recognise the significant impact it has had on those who lived through it, including following its repeal. Public inquiries are typically used to establish facts about what happened and why, and to learn from events in order to reduce the likelihood of something similar happening in future. Since the law was passed in Parliament, its origins and motivations are already on the public record. A public inquiry would not establish any new facts. The Act and its impacts continue to be a relevant topic during discussions on LGBT+ equality policy, so the mistakes of the past are never repeated.
Cabinet Office