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Perfect Lives

1957 Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution

1957 Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution

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"The Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution," often referred to as 'The Wolfenden Report' was published on 4 September 1957 in the UK. Named after its chairman, Sir John Wolfenden, the report was commissioned following the convictions of several prominent men for homosexual offences. At the time, all male homosexual activity was illegal under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885, leading to increased arrests post-WWII.

The report sparked significant public debate and ultimately, the report's recommendations led to the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which decriminalized homosexual acts in private between consenting adults in England and Wales. Despite its impact, the report was criticized for its negative view of homosexual subculture. Sir John Wolfenden's son, Jeremy Wolfenden, was later revealed to be gay. In 1997, John Wolfenden was named one of the "top 500 lesbian and gay heroes" by the Pink Paper.

Showing its age but a nice copy of an extremely rare pamphlet that was only issued for internally for government with an unknown print run. 

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