Sexuality, Colonialism and Law: is there a dark side to gay rights?
- Course Code: HPC225
- Dates: 22/10/24 - 10/12/24
- Time: 17:30 - 19:30
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Joshua Hepple
Course Code: HPC225
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Around Seventy countries still criminalise gay sex. Why is this?
Examining the links between sexuality, colonialism and postcolonial gay rights, this course looks at colonial-era laws might still be in place and what might need to happen for those laws to be repealed. We will explore how Western organisations work with countries that have been colonised/oppressed historically. While human rights activism can have an essential role, this course will help you understand historical power dimensions and ongoing political tensions. We will examine what ideas regarding sexuality and human rights are universally beneficial and what are relative and only apply within specific environments.
What will we cover?
- an overview of the history of law for men having sex with men in Europe and Britain
- British colonialism, sexuality and laws and case studies (India and other (former colonies?) colonies)
- decolonisation, sexuality and postcolonial laws
- examples of Western postcolonial interventions and their outcomes
- reforms: possible, desirable and if so, who and how?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- understand the historical relations between colonised and coloniser countries and the ongoing power dynamics
- understand of notions of globalisation, sexuality, and the policing of sexuality via law in both past and present circumstances.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for anyone interested in ideas around colonisation, power and sexuality.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Mainly through class lectures and discussions. There is, of course, a comprehensive but not compulsory reading.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring your own life experiences and notions of sexuality and identity.
There are no additional costs, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for note taking.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please explore our politics and current affairs sections on similar and related courses and topics. Please also note additional courses continue to be added throughout each term.
Josh is an activist and academic in Law. His areas are Human Rights, Sexuality and (Post-)Colonialism, and he teaches at various universities across London in Law and Social Work. He has spent many years campaigning for the international decriminalisation of same-sex activity as part of various NGOs. Josh has cerebral palsy, which affects his speech; his assistant will be on hand while everyone gets to know him. All Josh's classes are taught in a non-judgemental and safe space, regardless of content. He is also a disability activist, and provides disability consultancy for around twenty different organisations; and is the co-creator of the award-winning 'Animal', a play on Sexuality, reliance and disability. He volunteers in the mental health sector and has delivered training in this area for many years. This term he is teaching a class on Sexuality and Colonialism, and another class on Introduction to Human Rights Law. He will be running a class on Disability in the new year.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.