Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution.

Wolfenden of Westcott

Published by Publication Date: 1957

London: HSMO, 1957. 155 pp. The Report that Led to the Decriminalization of Homosexuality [Wolfenden Report]. Report of the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution. Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland by Command of Her Majesty. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1957. 155 pp. Green printed wrappers, light fading, soiling and shelfwear. Internally clean. A good copy. $125. * Text of the landmark Wolfenden Report, which recommended the decriminalization of homosexual behavior between consenting adults. After many years of debate its recommendations were incorporated in the 1967 Sexual Offences Act. The report was prompted by public outrage in the 1950s over the increased number of prosecutions of men for homosexual offenses. A government-appointed committee, chaired by Sir John Wolfenden, was formed in 1954 to examine the laws related to both homosexuality and prostitution. The committee heard evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including medical professionals, legal experts, police, and government departments. The report famously stated that "it is not, in our view, the function of the law to intervene in the private life of citizens, or to seek to enforce any particular pattern of behaviour". It argued that the law should primarily focus on preserving public order and protecting citizens from exploitation and harm. The report's arguments influenced legal reforms regarding homosexuality in other common-law countries, including the United States and Canada. Seller Inventory # 84785

Bibliographic Details

Title: Report of the Committee on Homosexual ...
Publication Date: 1957
Binding: Soft cover
Illustrator: London: HSMO, 1957. 155 pp.