Earlier this year we were proud to sponsor the Echoes from the Dock exhibition at Bow Street Police Museum – a powerful project exploring the LGBTQ+ community’s relationship with the criminal justice system.
Among the hard and emotional takeaways was a flyer handed to me by an attendee. It called for a national inquiry into a former piece of legislation called Section 28.
Now, as someone who grew up in Australia, I can’t say it’s something I was aware of or had ever affected me – but after speaking with loved ones who lived through it and researching the topic online, I knew this was a movement we had to support.
It will come as no surprise to many that I am a gay man (shock!) – but that’s not the only reason why I’m so supportive of calls for an inquiry. At Ben Holden Ltd we’ve worked hard to create an environment that’s diverse and inclusive, not only for the benefit of our staff, but of our clients.
So what is Section 28?
Section 28 formed part of the Local Government Act 1988 and 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”.
Effectively that meant schools and other council-run services felt unable to talk about anything to do with same-sex relationships – including the kinds of government-run support services we might direct our clients to today.
The legislation remained in law until 2000 in Scotland, but it took another three years before being confined to the darkest depths of modern history here in England and Wales.
Why it’s so important
I know how hard it can be to be questioning yourself and your sexuality. Growing up in Adelaide, I didn’t feel like I could be openly gay during my formative years without fear of verbal or even physical abuse – and that was in a country that didn’t have legislation like Section 28.
And I know that’s the same for some of my colleagues here, too. None more so than my husband Callum, who works in our accounts team. Not only has he received abuse from the public, but also by the authorities on several occasions well into his adult life.
Just how much of that abuse could have been avoided if Section 28 didn’t exist?
I think it’s important for all of us in society to take time to reflect and learn lessons from the past. In this case, it’s about understanding the horrific consequences this disgusting legislation caused and why it should never rear its ugly head again.
But how does Section 28 relate to case management?
The role of a case manager is extremely broad – and our role is all about identifying and resolving the problems that our clients face. In a lot of cases, that can include questions around identity and personal relationships. It can even include supporting people to have physical and intimate relationships, whether that’s for the first time or after a traumatic brain injury.
And as mentioned, sometimes that involves working in partnership with local authorities and government-run services like the NHS. To think that our work in supporting a client to be comfortable in their own skin could be scuppered by state-funded services is absolutely appalling.
That’s especially true today as the world looks to become more supportive of transgender people, despite a Supreme Court ruling last year that will have been nothing less than soul-destroying for so many people, some of our clients included.
Why inclusivity is at the heart of life at Ben Holden Ltd
At Ben Holden Ltd we have a working environment which celebrates diversity, inclusivity and all the wonderful things they bring. They are hugely important to us and the way we operate.
It’s great seeing businesses fly the flag every year for Pride, but we want to go so much further than that. Not just for gay rights, but for fair and equal rights for everyone.
Together diversity and inclusivity don’t just make us better case managers, they make us better human beings. They introduce us to new perspectives, new techniques and new approaches to support our clients and achieve their goals.
In turn, they help our clients too. By creating such an open and supportive environment, we help our clients feel comfortable being themselves – and show them they can come to us for support on anything. We are here to help, no matter someone’s circumstances.
So, that’s why the flyer handed to me that day struck such a chord – and why we’re backing their call for an inquiry.
You can find out more about the Section 28 Justice Coalition and sign their petition here.
With your support, we can ensure lessons are genuinely learned and the horrors of LGBTQ+ censorship are never felt again.
