Some Men in London: Queer Lives 1945-1967

Peter Parker’s acclaimed two-volume anthology uncovers the rich reality of life for queer men in London, from the end of the Second World War to decriminalization in 1967. In the 1940s, it was believed that homosexuality had been becoming more widespread in the aftermath of war. A moral panic ensued, centred around London as the place to which gay men gravitated. Peter explores what it was actually like for queer men in London in this period, whether they were well known figures such as Francis Bacon, Joe Orton and Kenneth Williams, or living lives of quiet anonymity in pubs, clubs, more public places of assignation, or at home. Peter’s research encompasses letters, diaries, psychological textbooks, novels, films, plays and police records, covering a wide range of viewpoints, from those who deplored homosexuality to those who campaigned for its decriminalisation, resulting in the landmark 1967 act decriminalising homosexuality.

Dates

26 Jul 2025

10am - 11am

Price

£14

Concessions: £5 tickets are available for under 35 year olds who are part of the Friends of BIF's Next Gen Scheme.

Venue

Pavilion Arts Centre

Booking info

BIF Friends get priority booking from 18 March
Public booking opens 15 April
More info | Become a Friend

Dates, times & booking

  • Sat 26 Jul 2025 10.00am - 11.00am
BIF Friends get priority booking from 18 March
About Friends Priority Booking

Public booking opens 15 April

Priority Booking
for BIF Friends

To book seats early, join the Friends of Buxton International Festival and become part of our ‘Festival Family.’

Directors’ Circle, Benefactor, Gold Patron Tuesday, 18 March

Patron Tuesday, 25 March

Gold Friend Tuesday, 1 April

Friend and Joint Friend Tuesday, 8 April

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