Queer History Cumbria - 21st Century

21st Century

The 21st century seemed to promise greater equality and freedom for queer people with the introduction of protective laws and the general relaxing of social attitudes to queerness. The spread of the internet, better representations in media and the rise of community groups and pride events have allowed queer Cumbrians to be more open and visible in the county. Since 2015, the rise of right-wing attitudes has impacted the safety and rights of queer people, with trans+ people being at the forefront of bigotry.

21st Century So Far

National Events

Cumbrian Events

1999

Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations

Provides protection for trans people from discrimination in the workplace.

2000

Age of Consent Equalised

The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act reduces the legal age of consent for male couples to 16, in line with heterosexual couples.

2002

Same-Sex Couples Can Adopt

The Adoption & Children Act 2002 allows same-sex couples in England and Wales to adopt children.

2003

Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations

Provide legal protection against discrimination at work on the grounds of sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation.

2003

Pride in North Cumbria (PiNC) founded

By OutReach Cumbria and the NHS to provide services for LGBTQ+ youth in Cumbria.

2003

Age of Consent Fully Equalised

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 removes the privacy requirements for male-male sex, ensuring full legal equality.

2004

Gender Recognition Act

Gives trans and intersex people diagnosed with gender dysphoria the right to change their sex assigned at birth.

2005

Civil Partnerships Created

The first step on the road to marriage equality, providing same-sex couples with some of the legal benefits of marriage.

2008

Same-Sex Female Couples Given Birth Rights

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act grants same-sex female couples equal parental rights in cases of in vitro fertilisation.

2009

Trans Lakes formed

Providing a social and support group for trans+ people in South Lakes.

2010

First Cumbria Pride

Cumbria’s first official pride event was held in Carlisle.

2010

Protests in Barrow

In response to an increase in homophobic and transphobic attacks in the area.

2014

Marriage Equality

Equal marriage for same-sex couples comes into force on March 19 2014.

2017

Barrow Terrorist Threat

A local man is arrested after making serious threats of violence on a pride event at the New Empire pub in Barrow. He was later sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

2017

Alan Turing Law

The ‘Alan Turing Law’ gave posthumous pardons to men convicted of consensual same-sex activities and allowed living men the right to have their convictions disregarded.

2019

First Silloth Pride

2020

First Furness Pride

Held online due to COVID-19 restrictions. The first in-person event was held in 2022 in Barrow.

2021

Lakes Queer Adventures created

A social group providing outdoor adventures, based in South Lakes.

2022

Proud in Kendal begins

A social group for queer people in and around Kendal.

2023

First Kendal Pride held

2023

Proud & Diverse Cumbria founded & First Pride by the Harbourside

Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in and around Whitehaven.

2023

Queer Cumbria founded

A queer arts organisation based in Carlisle.

2024

First Ulverston Pride

2024

1/5 Adoptions to LGBTQ+ Families

In Cumbria, around a fifth of all adopted children were taken in by LGBTQ+ families in 2024, which is higher than the national average.

2025

Supreme Court Judgment

About the legal definition of a woman in 2025 has created uncertainty and concern about the rights of trans, non-binary and intersex people which, at the time of writing, has not been resolved.

⮜ Late 20th Century: Gender

History ⮞