British Museum and other institutions to mark anniversary of Sexual Offences Act with exhibitions and events The 2,000-year-old relationship between the Roman emperor Hadrian and a beautiful Greek boy called Antinous is to be explored as part of cultural events marking the 50th anniversary of one of the most important moments in gay British history. In July 1967 the Sexual Offences Act finally decriminalised private homosexual acts between men over 21 in England and Wales. It was a momentous, transformative moment, although it took until 1980 for the law to be changed in Scotland, and until 1982 in Northern Ireland. Continue reading...