This year, the British film Blue Jean, about a lesbian physical education teacher in the late 1980s, is nominated for a Bafta. The film is based on the real-life experiences of former PE teacher Catherine Lee and Sarah Squires, who served as consultants to the film’s creators, and utilises their recollections of the time when Section 28 was in effect.
Section 28 was introduced in 1988 with the intention of protecting traditional family values and children. Opponents argued that it was “state-sanctioned homophobia” while supporters asserted that it would accomplish this. At the time, homosexual educators feared losing their jobs if they came out or supported students battling their own sexuality. It fueled bullying and a sense of shame among gay youth.
Catherine Lee and Sarah Squires visited the set of Blue Jean to ensure that the film’s depiction of the era was accurate. Both were moved to tears by Rosy McEwen’s portrayal of Jean, who exemplifies the constant inner turmoil teachers experience due to Section 28. Lee said of McEwen’s performance, “I went from feeling sorry for her and wanting to put my arm around her and reassure her that everything would be alright to wanting to shake her and being really angry with her for not being more courageous.”
The law remained in effect in Scotland until 2000 and in England and Wales until 2003. Paul Baker, author of Outrageous! : The Story of Section 28 and Britain’s Struggle for LGBT Education, states that he is unaware of any successful prosecutions but believes that many individuals lost their jobs out of fear of being outed.
Georgia Oakley, writer and director of Blue Jean, has stated that she hopes the film conveys how Section 28 affected her life without her knowledge. She also hopes that it draws attention to the microaggressions that members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to face.
Blue Jean is currently playing in UK theatres and is nominated for a Bafta next week. The film has won four British Independent Film Awards, including best performance by Rosy McFadden.
This week, Blue Jean, a British independent film about a lesbian physical education teacher during the late 1980s when Section 28 was in effect, is nominated for a Bafta. The film, written and directed by Georgia Oakley, follows Jean (Rosy McEwen) as she navigates a complex web of school and personal relationships.
Section 28 was introduced in 1988 with the intention of protecting children and preserving traditional family values, according to its supporters. Opponents referred to it as “state-sponsored homophobia” because gay teachers feared losing their jobs if they came out or supported students struggling with their own sexual orientation. It contributed to bullying and a sense of shame among gay adolescents.
Catherine Lee and Sarah Squires, two former physical education teachers who advised the film’s creators, visited the set of Blue Jean to ensure its accuracy. They were both moved to tears by Rosy McEwen’s performance as Jean, which exemplified the constant inner turmoil felt by teachers as a result of Section 28. Lee said of McEwen’s performance, “Seeing Rosy embody Jean and be so small, anxious, and timid in those school scenes had a profound effect on me.”
The law remained in effect in Scotland until 2000 and in England and Wales until 2003. Paul Baker, author of Outrageous! : The Story of Section 28 and Britain’s Struggle for LGBT Education, has stated that he is unaware of any successful prosecutions, but he believes that many individuals lost their jobs out of fear of being outed.
Georgia Oakley has stated that she hopes the film draws attention to the microaggressions still experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community and serves as a reminder that our rights are fragile and should never be taken for granted.
Blue Jean has won four British Independent Film Awards, including best performance by a leading actress for Rosy McEwen, and is now nominated for a Bafta. The film is currently playing in UK theatres and is an evocative period piece that demonstrates how far we’ve come since the passage of Section 28, but also how some things have remained the same.
