Gemma Hardy p. 337
On this page, Gemma thinks of this word when she begins to understand the relationship between Hannah and Pauline. Archie explains the status quo of lesbianism to Gemma and provides an accurate account. Homosexuality among men was illegal in Scotland until 1980. Same-sex contact between women had never been targeted in law and was not illegal. Scottish society just chose to believe lassies did not do that kind of thing. Queen Victoria insisted it wasn’t possible between women. When the Sexual Offences Act was granted royal assent on 27 July 1967 it applied to England and Wales only, Scotland, along with Northern Ireland, was excluded. England and Wales can now mark 50 years since the historic reforms which partially decriminalized homosexuality between two consenting men in private over 21 years of age. But Scotland took 13 years to adopt the same legislation into Scots Law.