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Section 28 Justice Coalition calls for public inquiry into Section 28

Rainbow plaque marking the location of protests against Section 28 in Victoria Gardens, Leeds. Wikimedia Commons

The Section 28 Justice Coalition has launched as a campaign group to call for a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ+ people.

Section 28 refers to a part of the Local Government Act 1988, which stated that local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

It remained law in England and Wales until 2003, and in Scotland until 2000. This was interpreted by schools and other council services as meaning that staff could not talk about anything to do with same-sex relationships, even if someone asked them for support.

A drag queen in front of a bus operated by the Stagecoach company in Albert Square, Manchester, UK, during a Stonewall rally in the square for repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. Wikimedia Commons

The Section 28 Justice Coalition has been formed by a group of interested people from a range of backgrounds who met at the conference After Section 28: LGBTQ+ Rights in anAge of Censorship and Backlash in February 2026. The group will focus on campaigning for proper acknowledgement of the harms of Section 28, as well as better support for LGBTQ+ now in all areas of public life and against censorship of LGBTQ+ issues.

The Dear Section 28 project is also collecting evidence on the impact of Section 28 in schools and wider sectors including libraries, public services, institutions and the arts and cultural sector. It will host an archive of personal experiences through letters addressed directly to Section 28 with a film entitled Don’t Say Gay to be completed this year. The team are looking for volunteers to run Dear Section 28 writing workshops across the country to collect letters from people impacted by Section 28.

Launch of Section 28 petition

Co-Chairs and two of the co-founders of the Section 28 Justice Coalition, Stevie Jones and Sarah Drummond, said: "We know that Section 28 created an awful environment for a generation of LGBTQ+ people in schools. So many were left without support in a state sponsored silence which left young people and staff scared to talk about who they were.

"It spread beyond schools, into all activities of local government, resulting in artists being banned from performing, vital health services for LGBTQ+ people being cancelled, and books being taken off shelves.

"Legislation is not the only way that censorship is enforced. Increasingly, we’re seeing more and more pressure to stop discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, de-fund LGBTQ+ initiatives, protest at art and cultural events and an increase in pressure on librarians and book banning.

"We will work tirelessly to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are able to proudly live as themselves in every area of public life and will work with international partners across the world in this shared purpose.

"Our petition to a public inquiry is the first step in our mission. An inquiry would finally give a proper acknowledgement of the harm caused by all of those who lived under Section 28 and would help provide comprehensive ways that this country could make sure nothing like it ever happens again."

The group is currently seeking more volunteers to help the mission and high profile patrons to help spread the message of equality without censorship.