Twenty-eight

"Twenty-eight" is a song by LorD and Master from the album Queer, which explores how it felt to be in education during the period from 1988 until 2003. During this time, Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was in place. This piece of legislation stated that a "local authority shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" and that it was forbidden for a local authority to "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." The effect that this had on society at large was to whip up ignorance and hatred towards LGBTQ+ people. The effect on queer people themselves was that of isolation, loneliness, misinformation and internalised queerphobia.

This song contains a sequence where Margaret Thatcher speaks, prior to enacting the legislation, at a Conservative Party Conference.

Lyrics

No need to educate
Seek to eradicate
From 1988
We bring you Section 28

Scars that won't heal
No matter how well you feel
A deep-seated hatred 
Of yourself

Carrying an awful secret 
Destined to not reveal it
An unhappy life
A gruesome death

No need to educate
Seek to eradicate
From 1988
We bring you Section 28

One father's son
With nowhere to run 
Always felt a failure
It's nothing new

We could never be free
Until 2003
Freedom of expression
For me and you

No need to educate 
Seek to eradicate
From 1988
We bring you Section 28

Who am I
What am I doing
Who am I
Where am I going
Who am I
What am I doing 
Where am I going
Who am I

No need to educate
Seek to eradicate
From 1988
We bring you Section 28

No need to educate
Seek to eradicate
From 1988
We bring you Section 28

Versions

• Appears on Queer.

Personnel

• Written, produced and performed by Daniel Bailey-Graham.