1-28 February 2021: UK LGBT+ History Month

The UK celebrates LGBT+ History Month across business and community organisations through out the whole month of February.

The month-long campaign observes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) history; and raises awareness of the challenges LGBTQ+ people face in everyday life. LGBT+ History Month originally started in the US in 1994 to coincide with National Coming Out Day. Teachers Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick started the event in the UK in 2005. It forms part of the Schools OUT project to educate young people on issues that the LGBTQ+ communities face.

Although LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in October in the US and Canada, the UK celebrates the event in February. The UK chose February to coincide with the abolition of Section 28; which formerly stated that local authorities weren’t allowed to ‘intentionally promote homosexuality’. The theme of this year’s event is Body, Mind, Spirit.

UK FOCUS ON EDUCATION

The UK events’ primary focus is to teach young people about the gay rights movement; and put a stop to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. It does this through:

• Increasing the visibility of LGBT+ people, their history, lives and their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other institutions, and the wider community.
• Raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community.
• Working to make educational and other institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities.
• Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential; to ensure they can contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, benefiting society as a whole.

Hundreds of events are taking place across the UK throughout the next few weeks. Most events, however, are virtual this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Click here for more details. 

Fair Play Talks will be honouring LGBT+ History Month, through a series of columns and interviews over the next few days and weeks. In the meantime, check out the high-flying professionals from over 20 countries that have made it on the latest OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model lists.