Detailed thread about how Section 28 came about in the 80s and to anyone familiar with the current manufactured media moral panic about trans people (esp in regards to kids) it's deeply scary how similar it all feels to what has been happening with us recently. https://twitter.com/labour_history/status/1264446915015512065

Like all LGBT people my generation, I grew up under Section 28 and it made my school life exceptionally difficult - barring one kind junior school headmaster - staff were forced to look the other way, and I was left to find everything out myself, which was hard before internet.

It's infuriating seeing politicians who even this century were defending Section 28 with all their might sweep that under the carpet and claim it was just a product of the time or whatever. They knew full well what they were doing, ignorance is no defence for targeted hatred.

Though even in the past few years we've seen some return to those positions - and it's the anti-trans campaign spearheading it, letting homophobia and biphobia follow transphobia through the door. Just see the consistent homophobia from transphobe groups, even the 'LGB AIliance'.

(Said alliance, who represent LGB people about as much as the taxpayers alliance actually represents taxpayers (ie: they don't), have been rewriting history to make out that Section 28 was all one big misunderstanding that was solved over tea and biscuits) https://twitter.com/JackDunc1/status/1264528205375066112

This regarding of Section 28 as long-past history not only lets it return under a new guise but also overlooks how it has lasting impact on my generation to this day. How much trauma could have been avoided? How many lives were damaged for this? https://twitter.com/scattermoon/status/1077257435822411777

I wonder how many now enthusiastically promoting the banning of trans support in schools, the hatemobbing of trans YA literature, the concern trolling of any outspoken young trans person online, would claim decades down the line they didn't know better, it was just the times.

I mean, it's not just the Times, it's also the Sun, the Mail, even the Guardian, Newsnight, the National, etc. etc.

There are very few institutions who would speak out against what is happening. It's what makes it so scary. We're not even included in the conversation about us.

I want people to know about Section 28 - not as ancient history but as something very recent, something implemented and defended by many of those who still hold power, something that has left lasting damage on hundreds of thousands of lives.

Maybe we can stop it happening again.