大象传媒

First broadcast: 14 July 1997

Michael Buerk introduces a report by Niall Dickson on the government's proposal to offer an early vote on lowering the age of consent for gay men to 16, the same as for heterosexuals. Ministers have decided to drop their opposition to a case before the European Court of Human Rights that claims maintaining a higher age of consent for gay men is discriminatory.

Meanwhile, the Church of England's General Synod has reopened its debate on homosexuality in the Church. While the gay community welcomes these changes, some other groups have voiced concerns over how these reversals of policy might affect the future of the traditional family.