WORDS: CHRIS GODFREY // ILLUSTRATION: GEORGE MORTON
THIS YEAR MARKS the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The generation that began life outside the law has grown old. They survived state-sanctioned homophobia, Thatcher, the Aids crisis, the birth of the modern LGBT+ rights movement and same-sex marriage. Their struggle ensured future generations grow up experiencing something resembling equality — in legislation at least, if not wider society. But as they turn to care services in their senior years, many of these gay men ind themselves forced back into a closet they escaped long ago.
In 1959, at the age of 16, Paul Foss was outed to his father by a neighbour who took issue with the company he was keeping. He left home and quickly met his partner. By November 1963 the two men had decided to move in together. Although many landlords weren’t prepared to offer a home to a gay couple, a Jewish tailor eventually agreed to rent them an apartment. Foss and his partner went on to spend five decades together.