Synopsis
In 2009, Quakers in Britain decided to seek a change in the law to see same-sex marriage as equal to opposite-sex marriage. It was a joyful and profound moment in Quakers’ history, but one that took decades to reach.
In this fascinating book, David Blamires charts that history, from the publication of Towards a Quaker View of Sex in 1963 and the response it provoked, to the challenges in the lead-up to 2009. Throughout, legal issues and attitudes in society are described alongside personal accounts and an exploration of Quakers’ wider input into the conversation about homosexuality. What emerges is a frank perspective on how small but committed groups of Quakers – their actions, meetings, publications, and belief in equality – have contributed towards vast social change for gay rights in the United Kingdom.