Pardon for gay crimes is ‘too little too late’, says Strabane campaigner

A PROMINENT gay rights campaigner in Strabane has branded the UK government plan to pardon those convicted of homosexual ‘crimes’ as ‘too little too late.’

Stephen Birkett, originally from Blackpool but a Strabane resident for over 40 years, says the move ‘will not change the lives ruined’ by the convictions.

“People’s lives were irrevocably changed by the convictions brought against them, purely because of who they loved. Their lives have been ruined and I honestly don’t see how a pardon can change that. It’s a shame that this move will only apply to England and Wales, but I would hope that Stormont may follow suit in addressing what was a very iniquitous time our society.”

The move will come into effect in England and Wales, with no plans yet to see it extended into the North. It means anyone convicted or cautioned for consensual same-sex activity, under now-abolished laws, can apply to have them ‘disregarded’. The convictions would be wiped from record and an automatic pardon given.

Looking back on the turbulent times of the 70s, Stephen paints a bleak picture of how things were for gay people in the North.

“It was a horrible time for the gay community, a very frightening time. Don’t forget that being a gay person wasn’t decriminalised here until 1982. The RUC were actively going around searching for people in the gay community, using their individual property to find out if they were gay and bringing fines and convictions. I have friends to whom this happened and while some had their cases thrown out, others unfortunately weren’t so lucky.”

Homosexuality was outlawed in Britain until 1967 when it was decriminalised in England and Wales. Homosexuality was not decriminalised in the North until 1982 when a case brought before the European Court of Human Rights by Jeffrey Dudgeon the previous year saw the law extended across the water.

“Jeffrey and his partner were strong, but so many people here were not, as homosexuality was still a strong social taboo. The law was very cruel but that was unfortunately the times in which we lived, where things like persecuting gay people and misogyny were considered socially acceptable.” Concluding Stephen added, “Compensation, like the pardon would definitely be something, but it does beg the question ‘How do you compensate for a life ruined?’”