ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how a specific set of 'loony left' stories, namely stories about how certain London councils and local education authorities were allegedly trying to 'promote' homosexuality in the schools for which they were responsible. That were mobilised by Conservative politicians and newspapers in order to try to damage Labour's chances in the London local government and Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) elections of 8 May 1986 and the general election of 11 June 1987. Labour's local election manifesto in Haringey, a London borough outside the ILEA area and thus with sole responsibility for education, committed the council to upholding the right of educational workers to be 'openly lesbian or gay at work' as well as to supporting students 'realising their own gayness'. It also committed the council to beginning 'the process of ensuring lesbianism and gayness are treated positively on the curriculum'.
