Wikipedia has plenty of information and history on Section 28 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28

Clause 68 of the Bill being debated stated "Section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 (prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material) ceases to have effect."

Baroness Young proposed an amendment that would delete this clause and replace it with one that added to section 2A some text that the clause did not "prevent the headteacher or governing body of a maintained school, or a teacher employed by a maintained school, from taking steps to prevent any form of bullying".

This amendment was voted on and carried, and so section 28 was not repealed at this time.

Clause 2 [Defences available to persons who are under age]:

moved Amendments Nos. 3 to 16:

Page 2, line 11, leave out ("sixteen") and insert ("eighteen").

Page 2, line 22, leave out (""a homosexual act"") and insert (""an act of buggery in private with another man"").

Page 2, line 25, leave out ("a homosexual act") and insert ("an act of buggery with another man or commission of an act of buggery").

Page 2, line 26, leave out ("sixteen") and insert ("eighteen").

Page 2, line 27, at end insert--

("(3A) In subsection (1A) of section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 (as inserted by section 1)--

(a) the words from "an act of gross indecency" to the end shall become paragraph (a); and

(b) after that paragraph there shall be inserted the words, "and

(b) an act of gross indecency with another man or commission of an act of gross indecency by any person shall not be an offence if he is under the age of sixteen and the other party has attained that age.".").

Page 2, line 29, leave out second ("subsection") and insert ("subsections").

Page 2, line 30, leave out ("(8A)") and insert ("(8B)").

Page 2, line 30, leave out ("sixteen") and insert ("eighteen").

Page 2, line 32, leave out ("a homosexual act") and insert ("an act of sodomy").

Page 2, line 33, at end insert--

("(8C) A person under the age of sixteen years does not commit an offence under subsection (5A)(a) or (c) above if he commits or is party to the commission of an act of gross indecency or shameless indecency with a person who has attained that age.").

Page 2, line 36, leave out (""a homosexual act"") and insert (""an act of buggery in private by a man with another man"").

Page 2, line 39, leave out ("a homosexual act by any person") and insert ("an act of buggery by a man with another man or commission of an act of buggery by a man with another man").

Page 2, line 40, leave out ("seventeen") and insert ("eighteen").

Page 2, line 41, at end insert--

("(6) In paragraph (1A) of Article 3 of the Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 (as inserted by section 1)--

(a) the words from "an act of gross indecency" to the end shall become paragraph (a); and

(b) after that paragraph there shall be inserted the words "and

(b) an act of gross indecency or commission of an act of gross indecency by any person shall not be an offence if he is under the age of seventeen and the other party has attained that age.".").

On Question, amendments agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 3 [Abuse of position of trust]:

moved Amendment No. 17:

Page 3, line 2, at end insert (", including preparing such a person to engage in sexual activity with him at a later stage,").

On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 17) shall be agreed to?

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 139; Not-Contents, 124.

The majority voted to state that, with respect to adoption by couples, only married couples would be allowed to adopt (single adoption was unaffected). It did this by adding the word "married" in various places throughout the Bill (this amendment was the first, and there were later consequential amendments agreed without vote as this one had been agreed with a vote).

The majority voted to allow non-married couples to adopt. It did this by accepting the Commons disagreement to a previous Lords Amendment (made in the vote on 16th October 2002), by rejecting an amendment that would have insisted on the previous amendment.

Baroness Blatch introduced an amendment that said section 28 would only be repealed "Subject to the terms of section 127(2A)," which are given on http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/082/amend/ml082-iii.htm - this amendment was defeated.

The Contents were voting against prohibiting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in provision of goods and services in Northern Ireland. The vote was moved by Democratic Unionist Lord Morrow to annul the Equality Act (sexual orientation) regulations (Northern Ireland)

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 68; Not-Contents, 199.

• Fears that religious teachers and preachers could be prosecuted for homophobia
• Fears that Catholic adoption agencies and old people's homes would have to cater for gay couples or close
• Arguments that preventing religions discriminating against homosexuals constitutes discrimination against religions
• Arguments that there was not enough scope for debate and the topic was important enough that it ought to be presented as primary legislation with greater opportunities for amendment, rather than as regulations
• and the fact that equivalent regulations in Northern Ireland were currently being contested in the courts and their legality had not been established.

moved Amendment No. 108:

Clause 14, page 9, line 12, leave out subsection (2) and insert-

"(2) In subsection (5)-

(a) omit ", other than basic partner treatment services," , and(b) for "a father" substitute "supportive parenting"."

moved, as an amendment to Amendment No. 108, Amendment No. 108A:

Clause 14, line 4, leave out "supportive parenting" and insert "support by a father and a mother"

On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 108A) shall be agreed to?

*Their Lordships divided: Contents, 93; Not-Contents, 165.

*Pressure of other work means MPs or Lords are not always available to vote – it does not always indicate they have abstained. Therefore, being absent on a less important vote makes a disproportionatly small difference.