Homosexuality in British public schools in the 30s

1 post
User avatar
Gender None specified
Points 48
Reviews 1
(Note that a public school in Britain actually refers to a private, fee-paying, boarding school)

A story I have a plan of, and that I'm currently in the process of researching takes place in a British public school in the 1930s. One of the themes is of homophobia (I'm keeping it vague because I feel the story is not important for my question); however, recently I found out there was apparently a strong homosexual culture in these schools anyways, both of abuse and what seems to be even of a consensual nature. I understand that both homophobic and pro-homosexual arguments existed, but these accounts seem as it was just some normal thing distant from the public world? I'm sorry if I come across as genuinely ignorant or that I'm attempting to force my modern view in, I'm just so confused.

So my main question is: Would it even be accurate anymore to depict homophobic schoolboys in a public school, or am I wrong about this completely? If the answer is yes, then should I change the era or setting?

Please provide resources and/or insights that could help me. Thanks!



For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle ... anyone can get angry—that is easy—or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy; wherefore goodness is both rare and laudable and noble.
— Aristotle