LGBT+ History
LGBT+ Criminalisation
Law and Order
There appear to be 3 High Court Cases from Aberdeen that are amongst precognitions and prosecutions of other Scottish men at the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh between 1885 and 1945.
The period from 1950 to 1980 seems particular about charging people for indecency with males. In 1952, the cases of gross indecency surged to 35. Another surge was recorded between 1968 and 1974.
Both of these spikes were caused by political trends of the era – especially the latter, as 1967 was the year England decriminalised Homosexuality, and it took 13 years for the same to happen in Scotland.
Last charge of sodomy in Northeast happens in 1977 between two youths aged 21 and 19 in Peterhead. These however were not likely charged, due to 1973 Lord Advocate proclamation, that he will not prosecute homosexual offences.

Cases of Gross Indecency with Males in the City of Aberdeen 1958 to 1974, PATH Project, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Shiprow © Aberdeen City Council, Silver City Vault www.silvercityvault.org.uk
Early years
The earliest case from Northeast reported through press is of Donald Fraser, Glengarry – 24 April 1849 (sent to 10 years of ‘transportation’ by Inverness Justiciary Circuit) reported in Banffshire Journal and Elgin Courant and Morayshire Advertiser. No details however are available.
Despite relatively small numbers, the number of charges of sodomy is increased after passing of the Gross Indecency Amendment with several minor cases in 1890 and 1900s.
The period from 1910s onward is sparsely populated with records. What makes matters more difficult is homosexual offences carry the term ‘Unnatural offences’ rather than Gross Indecency as it is set by law. Cases remain relatively low between 1 to 3 almost every year. In fact, the period from 1950 to 1980 seems particular about charging people for indecency with males. In 1952, the cases of gross indecency surged to 35.
Crimes by Different Names
Interestingly, Sheriff Archibald Hamilton, in position of Sheriff Substitute of Aberdeen in those years (1952-71) has written a commentary to the Memorandum prepared by Sheriffs-Substitute.


Grampian police Rover SD1, Nitch42, CC BY SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Last charge of sodomy in Northeast happens in 1977 between two youths aged 21 and 19 in Peterhead. These however were not likely charged, due to 1973 Lord Advocate proclamation, that he will not prosecute homosexual offences. Details unavailable due to Data Protection