Bentham’s Defence of Sexual Liberty (documentary)

Podcast category: Bentham's Defence of Sexual Liberty, Documentary

What if one of history’s most influential philosophers argued for sexual liberty centuries ahead of his time? This documentary uncovers Jeremy Bentham’s radical defence of queer lives against the backdrop of 18th- and 19th-century repression.

From the hidden joy of Molly Houses to the tragedy of the Vere Street scandal, UCL researchers reveal a forgotten history of resistance, identity, and community. Featuring experts from law, literature and economics, this film shows how Bentham’s thinking shaped UCL’s founding values, and still resonates today.

Speakers include Professor Philip Schofield, Director of the Bentham Project, economic historian Professor Judy Stephenson, and Dr Xine Yao, Associate Professor in English and co-director of UCL’s Queer Studies network; qUCL.