Celebrating LGBT+ History Month

LGBT+ History Month is an annual month-long celebration and remembrance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history. It exists to promote equality and diversity, and to eliminate prejudice by educating people.

The history of LGBT+ History Month

In the UK, LGBT+ History Month was established in 2004 by Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick, the founders of Schools Out UK.

The Month is celebrated all around the world at different months of the year. In the US, the month takes place in October, to coincide with the US’ National Coming Out Day and to commemorate the first and second marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987 for LGBT+ rights.

In the UK, LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in February coincide with the 2003 abolishment of Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act.

Section 28 was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1988. The law prevented local authorities from ‘intentionally promoting homosexuality or publishing material with the intention of promoting homosexuality’ meaning schools were forbidden from including the subject in lessons. Section 28 was repealed in Scotland in 2000 and in England and Wales in 2003.

Less than 18 months after Section 28 was repealed, when the first History Month took place, up to 200 schools participated, with many taking advantage of Schools Out UK’s teaching resources. As of today, LGBT+ History Month’s Facebook page has over 90,000 followers.

LGBT+ History Month in 2022

Every year since 2011, LGBT+ History Month has focused on a different theme. Officially, that theme has always been linked to the National Curriculum for England and Wales, but it often also reflects current cultural moments.

For example, the theme ‘Homophobia in Sport’ coincided with the London 2012 Olympics. In 2013, the theme ‘STEM’ coincided with Alan Turing’s posthumous royal pardon and LGBT+ coverage featured him prominently.

The theme for 2022 is ‘Politics In Art: ‘The Arc Is Long’. Schools Out UK will be championing five artists who expressed their orientation through their work, or used their art for political means. They are: Keith Haring, Doris Brabham Hatt, Fiore de Henriquez, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Mark Aguhar (read more about Schools Out UK and the five artists work here).

This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the very first Pride March in the UK, where approximately 2,000 people attended. In 2019, this number had grown to 1.5 million people.

Numerous events are taking place across the country for this LGBT+ History Month, with many organisations and charities set to get involved:

The LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall is publishing a series of articles on LGBTQ+ history and asking what kind of world do we want to see for LGBT+ people in the next fifty years?

The LGBT Foundation has an action-packed schedule planned throughout February and beyond.

But make no mistake, LGBT+ History Month is for everyone. Here’s how non-LGBT+ charities can show their allyship and support for LGBT+ History Month.

Start within your own organisation

If you have not done so recently, consider reviewing your policies and protections for LGBT+ staff within your organisation. And take action to make your workspaces a safe space for LGBT+ colleagues, volunteers, donors, and supporters. 

For example, are your polices on parental leave, adoption, and pensions LGBTQ+ inclusive? Is LGBTQ+ inclusion a core part of your Equality and Diversity policy?

In addition to reviewing your polices and protections, consider setting up an LGBTQ+ network or providing LGBTQ+ training to staff to promote a more inclusive environment.

LGBTQ+ Experiment is a website that aims to help answer questions about sexuality and gender in an open, non-threatening, non-judgmental environment. The site addresses everything from how to respectfully ask a person’s preferred pronouns to how cis-hetero people can be effective allies to their LGBTQ+ friends and family?

Educate yourself (and encourage others to)

Schools Out UK, The Proud Trust, and Twinkl have a number of resources available to help education providers teach children about LGBT+ history and issues. These are normally designed for Key Stage 3-4, but education doesn’t stop at after school.

Non-LGBT+ charities can read up on the history of LGBT+ rights in the UK from The British Library and Stonewall, encourage colleagues and staff members to attend various History Month events in person and online, and utilise LGBT+ resources from dedicated charities to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the LGBT+ community and what it means to be a part of it. 

Or consider hiring an LGBT+ orator to deliver a talk on LGBT+ history to your team. The Motivational Speakers Agency has several passionate and dedicated speakers, from Billie Jean King (former #1 tennis player & equality advocate) to Justin Bengry (Director of the Centre for Queer History). Talks can be delivered either in person or online.

Put your money where your mouth is

Draping a rainbow flag over your logo is an easy gesture. And without real, substantial support behind it, charities put themselves at risk of virtue signalling.

Ensure the integrity of all your communications by championing LGBT+ voices or by partnering with an LGBT+ charity.

In addition to Schools Out UK and Stonewall, other LGBT+ focused charities include UK Black Pride, London Friend, and National Aids Trust. The Albert Kennedy Trust is an organisation that supports young LGBT+ people in the UK who are facing homelessness or living in a hostile environment. Whereas Gendered Intelligence works to increase awareness of gender diversity and improve quality of life for trans people.

Check out more LGBT+ charities here.

Be vocal, be social, be inclusive

If you’re planning on posting or tweeting in support of LGBT+ History Month 2022, be sure to use the official hashtags: #LGBTHM22, #LGBTplusHM #educateOUTprejudice. Use inclusive imagery wherever possible, as well as the digital resources available to you. 

Follow Schools Out UK on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.