The Lobby Display
"The love that dare not speak its name” from "Two Loves" Poem by Sir Alfred Douglas, used at Oscar Wilde's gross indecency trial.
Oscar Wilde Bringing Homosexuality to Light
Oscar Wilde Bringing Homosexuality to Light
Wilde's Aesthetic and Homosexuality
Wilde's Aesthetic Individualism focused on the individual, creativity from imagination.
Self-expression and self interest explain why he was so passionate in defending himself in trial,
Homosexuality really wasn't a public topic around the time in England. People knew about homosexuality, but keep these matters behind closed doors. Oscar Wilde being so relevant during the time brought a label to the subject.
Even with facing so much opposition, over time, the subject of homosexuality is gradually becoming more socially acceptable. Wilde’s original aesthetic of self-expression and art for pleasure, combined with Victorian values of art impacting society, made way for society to move towards a more acceptable view by people accepting individuals for expresses who they really are.
Self-expression and self interest explain why he was so passionate in defending himself in trial,
Homosexuality really wasn't a public topic around the time in England. People knew about homosexuality, but keep these matters behind closed doors. Oscar Wilde being so relevant during the time brought a label to the subject.
Even with facing so much opposition, over time, the subject of homosexuality is gradually becoming more socially acceptable. Wilde’s original aesthetic of self-expression and art for pleasure, combined with Victorian values of art impacting society, made way for society to move towards a more acceptable view by people accepting individuals for expresses who they really are.
Timeline: LGBT Historical Events in England
1895 Oscar Wilde Trial, the most severe punishment under the act
Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885:
In practice, the law was used broadly to prosecute male homosexuals where actual sodomy (meaning, in this context, anal intercourse) could not be proven.
1969 Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) formed as the first British gay activist group
1972 The First UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London with 1000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park.
1978 The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) was founded as the International Gay Association (IGA) on 8 August during the conference of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in Coventry, England, at a meeting attended by 30 men representing 17 organisations from 14 countries. The Coventry conference also called upon Amnesty International (AI) to take up the issue of persecution of lesbians and gays.
1982 Terry Higgins dies of AIDS in St Thomas' Hospital London, his friends and partner Martyn Butler set up the Terry Higgins Trust (which became the Terrence Higgins Trust), the first UK AIDS charity.[70]
1987 Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the 1987 Conservative party conference, issued the statement stating "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay".
1999 In May, the Admiral Duncan, a gay pub in Soho was bombed by former British National Party member David Copeland, killing three people and wounding at least 70
2000 The Labour government scraps the policy of barring homosexuals from the armed forces.
2001 The last two pieces of unequal law regarding gay male sex are changed.
2002 Same-sex couples are granted equal rights to adopt.
2003 Section 28, which banned councils and schools from intentionally promoting homosexuality, is repealed in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
2004 The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is passed by the Labour Government, giving same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
2013 The coalition government unveiled its Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill [138] on January 25th. Queen Elizabeth II announces public support for gay rights, first monarch in history.
Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885:
In practice, the law was used broadly to prosecute male homosexuals where actual sodomy (meaning, in this context, anal intercourse) could not be proven.
1969 Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) formed as the first British gay activist group
1972 The First UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London with 1000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park.
1978 The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) was founded as the International Gay Association (IGA) on 8 August during the conference of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in Coventry, England, at a meeting attended by 30 men representing 17 organisations from 14 countries. The Coventry conference also called upon Amnesty International (AI) to take up the issue of persecution of lesbians and gays.
1982 Terry Higgins dies of AIDS in St Thomas' Hospital London, his friends and partner Martyn Butler set up the Terry Higgins Trust (which became the Terrence Higgins Trust), the first UK AIDS charity.[70]
1987 Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the 1987 Conservative party conference, issued the statement stating "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay".
1999 In May, the Admiral Duncan, a gay pub in Soho was bombed by former British National Party member David Copeland, killing three people and wounding at least 70
2000 The Labour government scraps the policy of barring homosexuals from the armed forces.
2001 The last two pieces of unequal law regarding gay male sex are changed.
2002 Same-sex couples are granted equal rights to adopt.
2003 Section 28, which banned councils and schools from intentionally promoting homosexuality, is repealed in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
2004 The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is passed by the Labour Government, giving same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
2013 The coalition government unveiled its Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill [138] on January 25th. Queen Elizabeth II announces public support for gay rights, first monarch in history.
Painting of Oscar Wilde, What Do You Think?
From what you have learned about Oscar Wilde's trial, art, and LGBT history, how will you express yourself?
What do you think of Oscar Wilde? Draw pictures or write words around his picture. Way to express your thoughts in a creative way for the public to see. After each show, the picture will be framed and displayed in the lobby and a new picture will be replaced for the next audience. Each picture will hold different opinions and allow a "window" into the world of Oscar Wilde.
What do you think of Oscar Wilde? Draw pictures or write words around his picture. Way to express your thoughts in a creative way for the public to see. After each show, the picture will be framed and displayed in the lobby and a new picture will be replaced for the next audience. Each picture will hold different opinions and allow a "window" into the world of Oscar Wilde.
Green Carnations in bouquet- Symbol of Homosexuality, Downfall of Oscar