General information about Great Britain (British Isles)
In most of the major cities within the UK there are some gay youth groups. There is very little support within schools apart from the Sex & Relationship Education. There are Gay student unions in Colleges and Universities.
Gay Bars & clubs are only open to those over 18 years of age.
At the age of 16 years of age males and females who are both consenting can take part legally in sexual activities this includes gay or bisexual activities.
How ever you have to be over 18 years old to watch or take part in soft pornography and use dating sites.
Pornography in law anyone under the age of 18 years of age is classified as a child. This means a 17 year old who uses a web cam to record mastubating him or herself and uploading to a profile on any website is breaking the law.
1) Recording it – in the privacy of their bedroom
2)Distributing it – via the internet
Birth certificates of models proving their date of birth are standard practice within the porn industry has adopted
Pornography should not be viewed by anyone under 18 years of age
At age 16, you can:
- Leave home and live independently
- Claim social security benefits (if you are eligible for them)
- Work full-time if you have officially left school (you will also pay tax on your earnings)
- Be paid the Minimum Wage – at the level for your age.
- Get married with your parents or carers consent
- Join the Armed Forces
- Legally have sex (Both boys and girls must be over 16 before they can legally have sex. A male may consent to a homosexual act if he and his partner are aged 16 or above)
- Ride a moped of up to 50ccs
- Have an abortion without parental consent
- Apply for your own passport
- Pilot a glider
At age 17, you can (see also the rights from age 16):
- Hold a licence to drive most vehicles (a car, a motorcycle, a large tractor and vans or lorries up to 3.5 tons)
- Pilot a plane
- Emigrate
Also at age 17, a care order can no longer be made on you.
At age 18
You are considered an adult in the eyes of the law and can:
- Vote in general and local elections
- Buy cigarettes and tobacco
- Buy alcohol – in a shop, off-license or bar
- Get married (without your parents’ or carers’ consent)
- Get a tattoo on your body
- Change your name
- Drive vans or lorries up to 7.5 tons
- Serve on a jury
- Sue or be sued
- Open a bank account without a parent or carers signature
- Ask to see your birth certificate if you are adopted
- Place a bet
Gay history in Britain
Britain has one of the most prominent gay histories in the world and continues to push the boundaries for gay and lesbian rights and culture.
Britain had a gay king
King James VI had numerous, public gay relationships during a period when many of his pink populace were forced to hide their true feelings – a practice that remained until 1969 when the Scottish Minorities Group was formed on the grounds of Glasgow University.
Britain leads the way for gay rights
Before any other nation in the British Isles, Scotland lowered the homosexual age of consent to 16 and thus started a tradition of leading the way in gay rights? And while this change in the law books was greeted warmly, it should come as no surprise considering that gay relationships have been documented in the region since the 16th century.
Britain has had gay rights demonstrations since 1970
The first-ever gay rights demonstration in Britain took place on the 27th November, 1970 in Highbury Fields, north London. This milestone in Gay history is marked by a solid bronze, triangular-shaped plaque commemorates the torchlight rally by about 150 members of the newly-founded Gay Liberation Front.
