SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
Margaret Thatcher: Hero or Villain?
During her eleven years as Prime Minister, Thatcher was frequently described as the ‘Iron Lady’ and ‘the most powerful woman in the world.’ She was notably the first female Prime Minister, as well as the first female head of any European government. Despite the fact that she oversaw three Conservative election wins, her own popularity dipped and peaked throughout her premiership. She was a controversial figure, with a 40% approval rating during her time in office. Eventually, she became so unpopular that her own party turned against her, with Helestine challenging her for the leadership of the party. She was persuaded to resign by her Cabinet and left Downing Street in tears. She is remembered for all the wrong reasons: the Miners’ Strike of 1984, the controversial Poll Tax and the Falklands War. However, perhaps her most lasting legacy was Section 28 of the Local Government Act of 1988.
banned from even suggesting the possibility of same-sex relations to students. Meanwhile, councils had to ensure that the libraries contained no gay literature or films in case they advocated anything other than the traditional family values that Thatcher wanted to impose upon the population. At the time, there was a new wave of prejudice against homosexuality sweeping the nation due to the HIV/ AIDS outbreak, which stigmatized not only those with the disease, but gay men too. It was assumed that it was most prevalent amongst them as they were thought to be promiscuous. This condemnation of homosexuality emboldened Thatcher to express her prejudices and pass the first homophobic law in Britain in a century.
This was a clear step backwards for gay rights in Britain. Despite the previous efforts of the LGBTQ+ movement in the 1960s and 70s and the passage of This clause prohibited local authorities and the Sexual Offences Act 1967, these homophobic schools from ‘promoting homosexuality’. In attitudes prevailed for decades. This was exacerbated practical terms, this meant that teachers were by Thatcher’s Section 28, which effectively allowed 16
Sex & Relationships
