Mark Gatiss's LGBTQ drama reminds us how far we've come
BBC Two commemorated the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK with the powerful drama Against the Law on Wednesday (July 26).
The 90-minute one-off mixed a scripted recreation of the harrowing story of journalist Peter Wildeblood (Daniel Mays) and direct testimony of those men who were persecuted under Draconian laws punishing both gay and bisexual man prior to 1967.
Against the Law started off 10 years before decriminalisation as Wildeblood became embroiled in a highly controversial trial, in which he and friends Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers were all charged for being gay in 1954.
Wildeblood took the brave step of affirming sexual orientation in front of a hostile court, and it earned him an 18-month prison sentence. During the trial, his own former lover turned state's evidence against him.
However, public outrage over his conviction ultimately led to Sir John Wolfenden leading a groundbreaking government commission to examine whether the punishment of Wildeblood, Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers was too harsh.
Over the course of ten years, Wolfenden's study and Wildeblood's own advocacy once freed from jail contributed to the passage of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which decriminalised sex between two men over the age of 21.
This was the first step in a larger fight for the LGBTQ community to achieve true equality, but remains a landmark in the second great civil rights movement of the modern era.
On a day where US president Donald Trump banned the transgender community from serving in the military, Against the Law also reminded us how far we still have to go:
So proud of #AgainsttheLaw and all the amazing people who helped make it. 50 years ago love could be a crime. Please watch tonight, BBC2 9pm pic.twitter.com/NqfsSqQWA0
- Fergus O'Brien (@fergusobrienuk) July 26, 2017
Same sex relations were once #AgainstTheLaw in UK. We continue the fight for #LGBTI rights both home and abroad. Don't stop believing. pic.twitter.com/Vh0lf0w8yU
- Amnesty UK LGBTI (@AmnestyUK_LGBTI) July 26, 2017
Very moved by #AgainstTheLaw. We should never forget how gay men suffered before the law was changed. It's a disgraceful part of our history
- Joanna Cherry QC MP (@joannaccherry) July 26, 2017
Want to understand the real reasons we should celebrate Pride? Watch BBC2 now #AgainstTheLaw when all of us would be criminals 🌈 pic.twitter.com/wKDYI1cBDl
- Côôps (@furious_coops) July 26, 2017
On a day the USA pres denied 15,000 trans people the right to serve their country this film is more important than ever #AgainstTheLaw
- David Orchard (@DavidOrchardUK) July 26, 2017
if you aren't watching #AgainstTheLaw on bbc 2 right now, you should be. heartbreaking, frustrating....everything.
- Ashley S (@YesImAshley) July 26, 2017
Strange to be sat here with an engagement ring on my finger watching a show about a time when men like me were criminals #AgainstTheLaw
- Stewart Bain (@_Stewart_Bain) July 26, 2017
Ugh. This is so awful and so hard to believe that this wasn’t even that long ago #AgainstTheLaw
- Phil Ford (@philford) July 26, 2017
Watching #AgainstTheLaw - as a mum of a #gay son I am crying inside and just grateful he was born when he was & free to be himself.
- FFLAG (@OfficialFFLAG) July 26, 2017
Imagine heterosexuality is illegal.
Imagine being told you can’t love your husband/wife. Imprisoned for loving them.#AgainstTheLaw 🏳️🌈- Jazz (@Jazzalaa) July 26, 2017
#AgainstTheLaw can't imagine how life must have been for them more than 60 years ago ....and still are in certain parts of europe
- Carl🎶🎺♥️🌞🇬🇧🇳🇱 (@cdzw64) July 26, 2017
Equality isn't equality without equal treatment for all. Remember that. #AgainstTheLaw 🏳️🌈
- Roz Charles (@RozFrances) July 26, 2017
The one-off film was written by Sirens's Brian Fillis, who also penned the Quentin Crisp biopic An Englishman in New York, directed by The Armstrongs' Fergus O'Brien and starred Mark Gatiss in a supporting role as Wildeblood's psychiatrist.
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