Bracknell Forest is proud to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender + (LGBT+) History Month this February. It can also be called LGBTQ+ History Month. The Q references the contributions of those defining themselves as Queer.
LGBT+ History Month is for everyone. Organisations are encouraged to provide a safe space for LGBT+ people and celebrate their achievements.
It is celebrated every February across the UK. It was founded in 2004 by Schools OUT co-chairs, Paul Patrick and Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders. It was first celebrated in February 2005.
Aims of the month
The 4 main aims of LGBT+ History Month are to:
- increase the visibility of LGBT+ people, their history, lives and experiences in the wider community
- raise awareness and advance education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community
- make educational and other institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities
- promote the welfare of LGBT+ people, by making sure the education system enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential
This year’s theme
The theme this year is ‘Behind The Lens.’
This celebrates LGBT+ people’s contribution to cinema and film from behind the lens. Film has a complicated relationship with the LGBTQ movement. Cinema has often been a home for the LGBT+ community but still struggles to centre their experiences completely.
‘Behind the lens’ encourages people to place the experiences of LGBT+ people front and centre. Only by listening to LGBT+ people can we progress real change.
Section 28
2023 is also the 35th anniversary of Section 28. Section 28 was seen as a regressive piece of legislation introduced by the Thatcher government of 1979 to1990.
Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act stated that councils should not ‘intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality’ in its schools or other areas of their work.
Through campaigning, this was repealed in 2003. It remains an important part of LGBT+ history even 20 years later.
There are a number of original documents and publications related to Section 28. They are available on the School’s Out website.
Useful links
NHS Frimley have shared a series of videos looking at health inequality in the trans community. These are available as a video series on YouTube.
Get involved
You can support the cause by following LGBT+ History Month across their major social media channels.
The hashtags are: #LGBTplusHM, #Usualise, #educateOUTprejudice.
Bracknell Forest is proud to stand with the LBGT+ community.
