Calls for Reform

HomosexualLaw Passes Commons

jrare night session was called The House of as a result. When the vote Commons, after sitting finally came, most members through the night to overcome had slipped away. The bill a threatened filibuster, yester-passed, 99 to 14. Then, at 6:21 day approved the long-argued a.m., the house recessed. bill to reform British law on The victory should improve

homosexual conduct.

the chances of another social Only approval by the House reform measure that has of Lords is needed to make faced even more stubborn the bill law, and the Lords opposition-a bill to broaden

have twice before voted in the legal grounds for abortion. favor of this reform.

The measure would repeal all criminal penalties for homosexual acts committed in private by consenting adults. It affects only men. The existing statute does not condemn lesbian behavior, apparently because the Victorians who wrote the law didį not believe such a thing existed.

Rear Adm. Morgan Giles, a Conservative, said the effect of the bill would bel ["catastrophic.”

"IN A WORLD too ready to criticize us." he said, "this bill will be looked on as evidence of further evidence of Britain's degeneracy.”

Giles added that the "de-! cent" people of Britain would react violently and suggested that newspapers publish lists of those voting for the bill.

Sir Edward Boyle, a Conservative known for his liberal-minded views on social questions. drew cheers when he responded that he would not mind having his n a meļ published as a suported.

The measure rightly humanizes the criminal law of: this country." he said.

OPPONENTS hoped to kill the bill by using limited time;" available for debate for dis-i cussion of procedure. The