The log books are full of stories about raids on parties and arrests made in public toilets, as the police sought to stop men having sex with men in the 70s and 80s. Tash and Adam hear from the people who suffered through unfair laws and police persecution, a lawyer who defended them, and a retired police officer with regrets. Contributors include Terry Stewart, who is still seeking a pardon for his conviction today.

Content warning: difficult stories of persecution by the police.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about pardons and disregards for old crimes, take a look at:

Alan Turing law: Gay, unjustly convicted - and now denied a pardon

Don’t fall for the myth that it’s 50 years since we decriminalised homosexuality

Information on previous convictions, from Galop

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade 

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email [email protected] or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

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