What is LGBT+ History Month?
LGBT+ History month’s overall aim is to promote equality and diversity for the benefit of the public.
It is an annual, month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. Allowing us to reflect upon the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.
LGBT+ History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBT+ community.
This is done by:
- Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“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; and
- Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people, by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, thus benefiting society as a whole.
LGBTQ+ Historical Figures. Created by your 2023-2024 LGBTQ+ and Trans Student's Officers
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Why does LGBT+ History Month exist?
LGBT+ History Month is a means to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against the LGBT+ community. It also gives us the opportunity to celebrate its achievements and diversity increasing LGBT+ visibility.
When did LGBT+ History Month start?
LGBT History Month began in 2004 in the UK as a Schools OUT UK project initiated by Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick. The first event took place in February 2005. The Month has become an annual event taking place every February in the UK.
The first celebration in 2005 saw the organisation of over 150 events around the UK. There are more events and celebrations each year.
Why is LGBT+ History Month important?
Everyone should have the right to be educated and live in a safe environment - which promotes equality, safety and visibility for LGBT+ people.
Raising awareness that people have multiple, complex and diverse identities is really important as our identities shape the world and make history. The variety of identities amongst the human race is vast, and understanding that people may adopt several different identities at any one point in their lives is important.
Characteristics can be genetic, physical and social. Our characteristics are things like: age, gender identity, biological sex, race, religion/belief/non-belief, disability & sexual orientation. Characteristics are not inherently better or worse than each other. The combination of unique characteristics which make up an individual’s identity cause us to behave and react in different ways.
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