4 June 1964
North Western Homosexual Law Reform Committee Founded
Activism UK
The North-Western Homosexual Law Reform Committee held its first meeting in Manchester on 4 June 1964, with a formal launch later that year. Founded by Allan Horsfall and others to support decriminalisation, it later became the Committee for Homosexual Equality and then the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.
Impact & Significance
The committee helped take homosexual law reform beyond a London-centred campaign, building regional organisation and the campaigning infrastructure that continued after the limited 1967 reform.
Reference Record
- Date
- 4 June 1964
- Era
- 1950-1969
- Sources
- 1
Editorially reviewed — reviewed · last reviewed 2026-05-22.
Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q When was homosexuality decriminalised in the UK? The Sexual Offences Act 1967 partially decriminalised consensual sex between men in England and Wales, but UK-wide reform happened in stages and equality was not achieved by that Act alone. Q When was homosexuality legalised in the UK? If by legalised you mean partial decriminalisation of sex between men, England and Wales changed the law in 1967. The UK did not reach equality in one step: Scotland, Northern Ireland, age-of-consent reform and later partnership and marriage recognition followed through separate legal routes.
