Campaign for public inquiry into Section 28 rejected by Government
Section 28 Justice Coalition is seeing recognition and apology for historical harms
The UK government has rejected a call for a public inquiry into the impact of Margaret Thatcher-era Section 28, brought by the Section 28 Justice Coalition.
The government's response was issued on 18th August, 67 days after the petition reached the 10,000-signature threshold.
The coalition emphasised the government had committed to responding within 21 days.
The Section 28 Justice Coalition campaign, launched in February 2026, is striving for a public inquiry into the historically significant impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ+ communities.
Despite acknowledging the "devastating impact" of Section 28 and its lasting "chilling effect" on LGBTQ+ people, the government said its repeal and subsequent advances in LGBTQ+ equality demonstrate that its legacy has already been recognised.
In their response, the Government declined the request for a public inquiry into Section 28, citing that its effects are continuously addressed within ongoing LGBT+ equality discussions.
The coalition has expressed dissatisfaction with the Government's focus on general progress for LGBTQ+ communities, asserting the petition's call for an apology and recognition of Section 28's legacy of harm.
Section 28, which was repealed in 2003, left enduring repercussions for many who lived, worked, and were educated during its enforcement. The coalition’s efforts include gathering testimonies and advocating for meaningful apologies and preventative strategies against current LGBTQ+ censorship in public life.
You can read more about Section 28 on The National Archives
The petition for a public inquiry, aiming for increased signatures ahead of its closure on 24th September 2026, continues to collect supporters. The coalition advocates for a comprehensive, independent inquiry to thoroughly investigate the legislation's impact and prevent future censoring of LGBTQ+ visibility.
Alongside the petition, the coalition calls for public pledges against censorship, contributions to their Dear Section 28 archive, donations for a documentary exploring Section 28's history, and further research submissions to strengthen evidence of its impact.
The organisation remains dedicated to collaborating with the Government on alternative strategies to achieve their goals of an apology, recognition, and lesson dissemination regarding Section 28's historical damage. They underscore the importance of safeguarding LGBTQ+ representation amid growing censorship threats.
The Government statement in full
The Cabinet Office said: "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."
You can find out more about the campaign - and what the group are getting up to - on the Section 28 Justice website.